mistook

verb

past tense of mistake
1
as in misunderstood
to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of the auctioneer mistook my nod for a bid, and I ended up buying a painting I don't even like

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2
as in misjudged
to make an incorrect judgment regarding you seriously mistake me if you think I scare so easily

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3
as in confused
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related she mistook physical attraction for love

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mistook Government officials, executives, and prominent public figures mistook her confidence and ability to perform credibility for evidence that her technology worked. — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026 In their petitions, several immigrants said that officers mistook them for the aggressor. — Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 14 Oct. 2026 Jensen Huang has argued that the doomsayers mistook the task of reading scans for the whole job. — Han Wang, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026 The agents mistook the man for the fugitive, the agent told police. — Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026 The incident comes about a year after a teenager died in rural Iowa, after he was shot by a fellow hunter who apparently mistook him for a squirrel. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026 Fans initially mistook the glittery design for a tattoo before identifying it as one of Barrière’s top-selling offerings. — Sophie Dunne, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026 Keeley walked away before realizing that Roy mistook Erin for Keeley. — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 As the bat boy sat at a red light, two women pulled up alongside him and mistook him for Byrnes. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistook
  1. misunderstood
  2. misjudged
  3. confused
  4. missed
  5. underestimated
Verb
  • Reward prediction error reflects a discrepancy in the outcome or goal and, in the NVA system, can indicate that the AI has misunderstood what the person ultimately wanted.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Mangione's attorneys then fired back Monday in a response to the DA's office's letter, saying prosecutors had misunderstood their position.
    — Greg Wehner , Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of misunderstood
Verb
  • Some have misjudged the strength of the surface mat, stepping in the wrong place or breaking through into the cold water below.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Jorrel Hato misjudged the flight of the delivery, allowing Belloumi to emphatically half-volley a shot into the bottom corner.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of misjudged
Verb
  • Rosa got confused and brought up the glass of red to Carolyn’s cabin instead.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Christina Applegate’s recent revelation that she was misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis is raising questions about how the disease can be confused with other conditions even after years of treatment.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of confused
Verb
  • Sexton, who missed all five preseason games, was a full participant in practice Monday and did not suffer a setback, Redick said.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • When working as a rural OB-GYN, Marshall sued over 700 patients, leading to 81 arrests when patients missed court dates and failed to repay their bills.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of missed
Verb
  • But the contribution of the offensive line — center Aaron Brewer, left guard Kadyn Proctor, left tackle Patrick Paul, right guard Jonah Savaiinaea and right tackle Austin Jackson — in both the pass game and run game shouldn’t be underestimated.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The Ebola outbreak that began in DR Congo is becoming a continental crisis after authorities initially underestimated its spread, the head of Africa’s public health agency told Semafor as new cases were reported as far afield as Nigeria.
    — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of underestimated

Browse Nearby Words

mistitling
mistook
mistranslate
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Cite this Entry

“Mistook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistook. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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