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

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 mistake
Noun
Burns has requested IndieWire not get too detailed so as not to spoil the podcast, but underlined that this breakthrough came through a series of mistakes. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 13 June 2025 But it’s worked better than anyone could have imagined, controlling games with possession and limiting mistakes in the back. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025
Verb
Style-wise, there's no mistaking Gilgeous-Alexander for either Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell or Brunson. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025 Miyashiro, who grew up in San Jose and is in his mid-40s, could be mistaken for a skater or surfer decades younger if not for his long, gray hair. Christine Terrisse, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for mistake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistake
Noun
  • Other big moments in Trump’s presidency include the leak of U.S. military attack plans to Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, what was widely considered to be the first major blunder of his second term.
    Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • By the 10th, all those blunders faded into the background of their third win in three tries since Posey’s shocking flurry of roster moves.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 6 June 2025
Noun
  • The government has admitted in court that his deportation was an administrative error.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2025
  • In 2018, a study by MIT Media Lab revealed that commercial AI systems had error rates of up to 34% for darker-skinned women, compared to just 1% for lighter-skinned men.
    Jessica Smith, Time, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • All of the Italian characters are just wonderful human beings, and a lot of the miscommunication is the two guys, Andrew and Nick, who played Dom and Cole are misunderstanding what is being presented in front of them.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 6 June 2025
  • Heard said investors tend to misunderstand Adobe’s deliberate approach to AI monetization as its creative workflow translates raw AI material into competitive intelectual property.
    Pia Singh,Yun Li, CNBC, 14 May 2025
Verb
  • But for this chemical process to occur, certain conditions must be met that should not be underestimated: The vegetable must be paired with fat and the carrots should be cooked.
    Irene Coltrinari, Vogue, 12 June 2025
  • From the day she was born, Woodward was underestimated, says her mom, Darcy.
    Eileen Finan, People.com, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • The measures are set to take effect on Monday and have left many Haitians confused.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
  • Elections and Certifications Don’t confuse a benefit or B corporation with a B Corp.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • The Pride showed defensive strength that had been missing in recent weeks to keep Houston from scoring.
    Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 June 2025
  • Dom missed an awkward 619 and Octagon Jr. regained control.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Verb
  • Greg Ip, the chief economics commentator for The Wall Street Journal, writes that both Wall Street and Main Street have misjudged the president.
    Hersh Shefrin, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
  • In one classic example cited in Science Advances, judges frequently misjudge a defendant’s risk of reoffending.
    Robert Pearl, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • Delays and miscalculations have pushed the delivery date back and increased the contract cost by billions.
    Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 30 May 2025
  • The United States and its partners fear that a nuclear-armed Iran could set off an atomic arms race in the Middle East and contribute to instability there, sharply raising the stakes for any miscalculation between rivals.
    Steven Erlanger, New York Times, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Mistake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistake. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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