mistook

verb

past tense 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 misjudged
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 mistook Jensen Huang has argued that the doomsayers mistook the task of reading scans for the whole job. — Han Wang, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026 The agents mistook the man for the fugitive, the agent told police. — Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026 The incident comes about a year after a teenager died in rural Iowa, after he was shot by a fellow hunter who apparently mistook him for a squirrel. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026 Fans initially mistook the glittery design for a tattoo before identifying it as one of Barrière’s top-selling offerings. — Sophie Dunne, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026 Keeley walked away before realizing that Roy mistook Erin for Keeley. — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 As the bat boy sat at a red light, two women pulled up alongside him and mistook him for Byrnes. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026 Marcus mistook Sandra's reliability and competence for engagement. — Dr. Rick Ruperto, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 When one of the Fox sportscasters mistook Matt Damon for Brad Pitt, several news organizations mistakenly reported that Pitt was there. — Bobby Allyn, NPR, 13 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mistook
  1. misunderstood
  2. misjudged
  3. confused
  4. missed
  5. underestimated
Verb
  • Reward prediction error reflects a discrepancy in the outcome or goal and, in the NVA system, can indicate that the AI has misunderstood what the person ultimately wanted.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of misunderstood
Verb
  • Jorrel Hato misjudged the flight of the delivery, allowing Belloumi to emphatically half-volley a shot into the bottom corner.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 14 Sep. 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
Verb
  • Not to be confused with the football the Chargers play in that same stadium.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Phone notifications open via app casting, but the system gets confused easily.
    — Dominic Preston, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of confused
Verb
  • And Giants kicker Dominic Zvada, who missed three field goals in the contest, missed a 46-yard attempt on the opening overtime drive.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • However, the couple missed each other, and Sarah began staying over at Len’s more often.
    — Anne Kadet, Curbed, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of missed
Verb
  • His analytical awareness has been underestimated for a while, thanks to his signature style.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Those who believed radical change was inevitable after 2008 underestimated two factors.
    — Via Haymarket Books, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of underestimated

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mistitling
mistook
mistranslate
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Cite this Entry

“Mistook.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mistook. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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