mistaken 1 of 2

adjective

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

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mistaken

2 of 2

verb

past participle 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 underestimated
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 mistaken
Adjective
Twelve days after the World Cup final, the International Football Association Board said that mistaken identity should not be used in instances of simulation. — Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The beginning of the fire was widely mistaken as a special effect put on by the pop group performing at the time, and the flames spread quicker than clubbers could realize what was happening. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026 So small and white, they could be mistaken for a cluster of snowflakes. — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026 The correspondence reveals Iranian authorities influencing deportation lists, last-minute passenger changes and at least one mistaken removal, raising alarms about asylum seekers, due process and returns to a repressive regime. — Safiyah Riddle, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Conversely, online growth after an opening may be mistaken for a halo effect, even though some of it would have occurred anyway. — Ayşe Çetinel, Harvard Business Review, 18 Aug. 2026 Yet what looks like short-term continuity should not be mistaken for long-term sustainability. — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Other warning signs most people miss Moffitt Cancer Center flags several presentations that get mistaken for everyday skin issues. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2026 Stalling often suggests that research was mistaken for readiness. — Kelly Hopping, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
These pauses also give the documentary an air of mournful respect, making its pace more deliberate than the standard talking heads-doc that might be mistaken as a stylistic counterpart. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026 The Water Tower, for instance, could easily be mistaken for, well, a water tower—but King Charles is opening it up to guests as one of the world’s most unique royal-adjacent vacation rentals. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 19 Aug. 2026 The spokesperson also said that web cameras should not be mistaken with security cameras, which are located in hallways, common areas and other spaces in campuses for safety purposes. — Samuel O’Neal 19, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2026 At 6-2, his tall stature shouldn’t be mistaken for a target striker. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026 What unfolded could easily have been mistaken for a riot between mortal enemies. — Jeff Rabhan, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2026 Westminster officials also recently warned residents of a bullsnake hanging around Big Dry Creek near City Park, a snake often mistaken for a rattler. — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2026 The conclusions of these organizations should not be presented as though no legitimate disagreement remains — or mistaken for a court verdict. — Arielle Kaden, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026 In his own line of work, he could easily be mistaken for a Dan Sullivan who coaches entrepreneurs, or a Danny Sullivan who works at Google. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistaken
  1. incorrect
  2. misunderstood
  3. underestimated
  4. confused
  5. wrong
  6. missed
  7. misjudged
Adjective
  • This story has been updated to remove an incorrect win total for Dondrial Pinkins.
    — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • There are several factors that cause black clothes to fade such as frequent washing, incorrect drying, and consistent exposure to sunlight.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of incorrect
Verb
  • 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
  • Either dark energy is a real phenomenon, causing the universe to grow bigger at a faster and faster rate, or there is no dark energy at all, and scientists have somehow misunderstood the laws of gravity at cosmic scales.
    — Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 1 July 2026
Definition of misunderstood
Verb
  • Lampkin could be more of an outlier than an example, but there’s little doubt he’s been underestimated — something Lampkin acknowledged upon arriving last season.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Being underestimated based on her beauty often put her at an advantage.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of underestimated
Verb
  • However, comments Titi and KC made on their Aftersun episode after being dumped from the villa left Aniya confused about where their dynamic stood.
    — Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
  • But getting to these moments means being okay with being confused, and that’s because season 2 really ratchets up the complexity primarily by introducing a whole bunch of new characters, most of whom are variants of existing ones.
    — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of confused
Adjective
  • Remember, taking the wrong benefit at the wrong time is always smaller and forever.
    — Thomas Hager, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Therefore, therapy should do more than help people identify what’s wrong with their relationships.
    — David H. Rosmarin, Time, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of wrong
Verb
  • Right tackle Luke Goedeke tore his plantar fascia and suffered a severe foot contusion, and missed six games.
    — Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Bell, a fourth-round draft pick after his record-breaking senior year at UConn, missed the first two preseason games with a groin injury but starred in his debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the brand new Highmark Stadium on Thursday night.
    — Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of missed
Verb
  • Deebo Samuel, not Cowing, was the team’s punt returner to open the game, and Cowing misjudged one of his early attempts, allowing the ball to bounce in front of him.
    — Matt Barrows, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The extent of harm, after all, can be misjudged by those suffering it, and complaints are not always offered by the frightened captive.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of misjudged

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mistaken
mistakenly
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Cite this Entry

“Mistaken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistaken. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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