as in incorrect
having an opinion that does not agree with truth or the facts
meat loaf is on the cafeteria's menu today, if I'm not mistaken
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in underestimated
to make an incorrect judgment regarding
you seriously mistake me if you think I scare so easily
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in confused
to fail to differentiate (a thing) from something similar or related
she mistook physical attraction for love
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of mistaken
Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 9 Feb. 2026
Council member Jaime Resendez said low survey response rates, particularly in southern Dallas, shouldn’t be mistaken for lack of preference.
—Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
Advertisement The coverage also reveals how easily marketing language can be mistaken for cultural analysis.
—Debbie Millman, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
And their mistaken analysis would lead us into drastic service cuts or double-digit tax hikes.
—Marc Wigder, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
While they may be mistaken for fleas, springtails are small, harmless organisms that (fortunately) don’t bite, sting, or transmit disease.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 3 Feb. 2026
Garrett said the case could also be mistaken identity.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2026
However, their underlying logic for this rage is mistaken.
—Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Some American citizens have begun carrying their passports in Minneapolis, fearful that they'll be mistaken for undocumented immigrants and detained amid a surge of federal agents to the city.
—Lana Zak, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Rather than come off as a protest event, the 35-minute program offered a set of mild, largely non-political performances that could have been mistaken for a vintage CMT or Nashville Network special — even from Kid Rock, who was on his very best behavior during a quick two-song appearance.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
Food noise can be described as frequent thoughts about food that can sometimes be mistaken as hunger, experts say.
—Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Sanders would be mistaken, however, to regard NIL or revenue share as authorizing a workplace fine system.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Agency spokesperson George Barahona said preliminary information indicates the man may have mistaken the mushroom for a variety in his home country that is edible.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
They easily could have been mistaken for agitated sports fans, and their actions were small and diffuse enough that they could be quickly dispersed.
—Davood Moradian, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Many organizations have mistaken awareness for ability and intent for execution, assuming preparedness without ever proving it.
—James Hadley, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The four finalists vying to be named Miami-Dade County’s top teacher could have easily been mistaken for longtime friends rather than competitors.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
This underrated food is often mistaken for a vegetable, but peas are actually a member of the legume family.
—Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 9 Feb. 2026
Council member Jaime Resendez said low survey response rates, particularly in southern Dallas, shouldn’t be mistaken for lack of preference.
—Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
Advertisement The coverage also reveals how easily marketing language can be mistaken for cultural analysis.
—Debbie Millman, Time, 4 Feb. 2026
And their mistaken analysis would lead us into drastic service cuts or double-digit tax hikes.
—Marc Wigder, Sun Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
While they may be mistaken for fleas, springtails are small, harmless organisms that (fortunately) don’t bite, sting, or transmit disease.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 3 Feb. 2026
Garrett said the case could also be mistaken identity.
—Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2026
However, their underlying logic for this rage is mistaken.
—Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Some American citizens have begun carrying their passports in Minneapolis, fearful that they'll be mistaken for undocumented immigrants and detained amid a surge of federal agents to the city.
—Lana Zak, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
Experts say that among the affected are monolingual speakers of Spanish, Chinese, Mandarin and Mixteco; some foragers have mistaken the death cap mushroom for edible fungi from their native countries.
—Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Rather than come off as a protest event, the 35-minute program offered a set of mild, largely non-political performances that could have been mistaken for a vintage CMT or Nashville Network special — even from Kid Rock, who was on his very best behavior during a quick two-song appearance.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Feb. 2026
Food noise can be described as frequent thoughts about food that can sometimes be mistaken as hunger, experts say.
—Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026
Sanders would be mistaken, however, to regard NIL or revenue share as authorizing a workplace fine system.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Agency spokesperson George Barahona said preliminary information indicates the man may have mistaken the mushroom for a variety in his home country that is edible.
—Tim Fang, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
They easily could have been mistaken for agitated sports fans, and their actions were small and diffuse enough that they could be quickly dispersed.
—Davood Moradian, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
Many organizations have mistaken awareness for ability and intent for execution, assuming preparedness without ever proving it.
—James Hadley, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The four finalists vying to be named Miami-Dade County’s top teacher could have easily been mistaken for longtime friends rather than competitors.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistaken
Adjective
-
Some will always believe their placement incorrect.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Both parties claim problems such as invalid signatures and missing or incorrect voter information on petitions that judicial candidates submit to secure a place on the ballot.—
Kamal Morgan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
So both sides have misunderstood his constituency.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Many patients are surprised to learn that watery eyes can actually be a sign of dryness, a common but frequently misunderstood symptom.—
Team Verywell Health,
Verywell Health,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Seattle’s assimilation of so many players that had previously been underestimated or counted out or pigeonholed, though — starting with former Jets first-round quarterback Sam Darnold — into such a dominant whole is rare.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
His success suggests that mass audiences are capable of engaging with complexity, even when institutions have historically underestimated them.—
Dr. Carlos A Torre,
Hartford Courant,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The New England Patriots just couldn't muster much of an attack against a Seattle defense that appeared to have Drake Maye confused through much of the night, falling 29-13.—
Will Richmond,
The Providence Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The California Department of Public Health is urging people to avoid mushroom foraging altogether this year because death cap mushrooms are easily confused with safe, edible varieties.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Now Rubio was telling liberal centrist foreign leaders that their entire outlook was wrong, echoing the far-right populist opponents who might well unseat them in upcoming elections.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
And so the custodians became irate when photographs emerged of the actor Sarah Pidgeon, who plays Bessette in Murphy’s show, looking all wrong on set.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The western states have been working to renegotiate the water use pact for over two years and missed the November deadline to reach a new agreement.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
-
But Malinin missed his first combo and could never regain his composure in what was likely his worst performance in a major competition in quite some time.—
John Cherwa,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even so, the idea seemed misjudged.—
Christopher Tayler,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
In the end, McAdams’ sexiness isn’t incidental, but integral to how she’s been misjudged.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mistaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistaken. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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