mistake 1 of 2

mistake

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to misunderstand
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in to confuse
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related she mistook physical attraction for love

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun mistake differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of mistake are blunder, error, lapse, and slip. While all these words mean "a departure from what is true, right, or proper," mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error.

dialed the wrong number by mistake

Where would blunder be a reasonable alternative to mistake?

The words blunder and mistake can be used in similar contexts, but blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame.

diplomatic blunders

When is it sensible to use error instead of mistake?

The synonyms error and mistake are sometimes interchangeable, but error suggests the existence of a standard or guide and a straying from the right course through failure to make effective use of this.

procedural errors

When can lapse be used instead of mistake?

While in some cases nearly identical to mistake, lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause.

a lapse in judgment

When could slip be used to replace mistake?

The words slip and mistake are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes.

a slip of the tongue

Examples 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 mistake
Noun
There are no goal flurries to erase those mistakes. Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2025 These are folks who made a mistake and did everything to rectify it. Rafael Bernal, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
Viewers who don’t make it past the first commercial break should be forgiven for mistaking it as a pro-Diddy effort. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 13 Jan. 2025 No one would credibly mistake the dignitaries on the north side of the National Cathedral as diehard fans of the man being honored Thursday for one last time in Washington, former President Jimmy Carter. Philip Elliott, TIME, 9 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for mistake 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistake
Noun
  • Scientists have long known that DNA-copying systems make the occasional blunder—that’s how cancers often start—but only in recent years has technology been sensitive enough to catalog every genetic booboo.
    Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The blunder occurred during the triple toss-up round on Thursday, January 16.
    Aaron Rasmussen, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The German hit 12 unforced errors in the set as too many of his forehands skewed off his racket at the wrong angle and out of the court.
    Issy Ronald, CNN, 26 Jan. 2025
  • Keys broke three times in the first set, helped in part by Sabalenka’s four double-faults and 13 total unforced errors.
    Howard Fendrich, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Once the war began, some administration officials believed that Kyiv might fall within three days, a judgment that proved to deeply misunderstand Ukraine’s will to fight.
    Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Their generation’s sense of empathy misunderstands compassion.
    Armond White, National Review, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Repurpose Your Resources Never underestimate the power of repurposing the resources around you to generate income.
    Rachelle Rutherford, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Grading the Polls: Despite a pretty accurate year, the pre-election polls once again underestimated support for Trump.
    Annie Karni, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Some residents have confused local law enforcement for ICE agents, said Earl Stoddard, an assistant chief administrative officer in Montgomery County, a sign of locals' anxieties that their neighborhood could be the agency's next target.
    DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, arkansasonline.com, 25 Jan. 2025
  • After a whirlwind of speculation and confusing back-and-forth negotiations, the Jacksonville Jaguars have officially hired former Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Liam Coen as their new head coach.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The only award missing from her collection was the Wade Trophy, which freshmen were not eligible for until the 2021-22 season.
    Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 15 Jan. 2025
  • His tragedy is what Spielberg missed in Ready Player One.
    Armond White, National Review, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Already, Moscow has seriously misjudged its ability to rapidly defeat the Ukrainian military and to shake Western resolve.
    Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2024
  • In a series of pre-registered experiments, it was found that individuals typically misjudge how much their outreach is appreciated, especially since the recipients (responders) focus more on their surprise at being contacted than the initiators do.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Recognizing Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader is not only a moral blunder, but also a serious economic miscalculation by the leaders of Mexico, Brazil and Colombia.
    Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 11 Jan. 2025
  • This miscalculation can have direct costs for organizations in terms of employee disengagement and turnover.
    Rachel Schlund Vanessa Bohns, Harvard Business Review, 3 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near mistake

Cite this Entry

“Mistake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistake. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

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