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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in misjudged
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
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Recent Examples of mistook
David Forman, deputy commandant of midshipmen, a midshipman who mistook authorized law enforcement as a threat engaged and was injured in the process.
—
Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The lenses were so long and the cameras so far back, in fact, that on occasion the local police mistook the film’s action for the real thing.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
Phoenix police detained a man after National Guard members mistook him for bringing unexploded ordnance to the Papago Park Military Reservation for disposal as a bomb threat.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The fruit tree likely got its name from early Europeans in North America, who mistook the pawpaw for the unrelated but similar-looking papaya, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2025
Last year, the internet mistook an offhand remark Fox made on TikTok as a coming-out declaration of lesbianism.
—Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 19 Aug. 2025
Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The lenses were so long and the cameras so far back, in fact, that on occasion the local police mistook the film’s action for the real thing.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
Phoenix police detained a man after National Guard members mistook him for bringing unexploded ordnance to the Papago Park Military Reservation for disposal as a bomb threat.
—Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The fruit tree likely got its name from early Europeans in North America, who mistook the pawpaw for the unrelated but similar-looking papaya, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2025
Last year, the internet mistook an offhand remark Fox made on TikTok as a coming-out declaration of lesbianism.
—Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistook
Verb
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Germany's Bild newspaper reported on Saturday that Witkoff had misunderstood Russia's position on a ceasefire deal, taking Putin's demands for Ukraine to withdraw from Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson as an offer for Moscow to pull troops from the two regions.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Rapp, after initially running downhill, misjudged Henry’s acceleration and overall speed, which turned it into a mad dash.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
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Meanwhile, for an AI that claims someone is going into something bad, but the AI has computationally misjudged the circumstance, users are bound to howl and get upset with the AI and the AI maker.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At one point, O’Steen was confused by a question, and the resulting back-and-forth was reminiscent of an Abbott and Costello repartee.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Sep. 2025
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It should not be confused with Article 5, the cornerstone of the alliance, which states an armed attack on one NATO ally will be considered an act of violence against all members and prompt assistance to the member concerned.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Purdy missed Week 2 due to a toe injury, and QB2 Mac Jones filled in ably by completing 26 of 39 pass attempts and throwing for 279 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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The Eagles benefitted from short fields, covering 52 yards on their first touchdown drive after Harrison Butker missed a field-goal attempt, and 59 on their next, after a Patrick Mahomes interception and face-mask penalty pushed them quickly into KC territory.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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However, the true scale of the task can be underestimated, which prevents SBOMs from delivering their full value.—
Adrian Bridgwater,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
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That career that is underestimated and belittled by those who preferred to have a laugh for a few moments, preferred to throw the stone.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mistook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistook. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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