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mistake

mistake

∞ 1.0
A wrong action or decision
  • noun
  • /mɪˈsteɪk/
: error
  • We all make mistakes, but it's important to learn from them.
  • make a mistake
  • avoid making mistakes
  • learn from mistakes

We need to learn from our mistakes and let them go.

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Examples

  • I think I made a mistake in these.

  • You will make many, many mistakes and it's OK.

  • This could be a mistake, but it could be fine.

  • I used to make that mistake a lot when I got started.

  • We need to learn from our mistakes and let them go.

  • So that looks like it was a mistake in the factory.

  • This has to be some sort of mistake.

  • There must be a mistake.

  • So let's get into how your mistakes are your greatest asset.

  • You know, in science, admitting your mistakes is a strength.

Synonyms

fault
vsmistake
∞ 1.8

A mistake or personal weakness that causes people to blame someone

is the general term for any incorrect action, decision, or part
error
vsmistake
608 1.0

A wrong belief, calculation, or action

is the broad everyday term covering wrong actions, decisions, and parts
defect
vsmistake
150 3.4

A fault that makes something less useful or valuable

is the general label for incorrect actions, decisions, and parts
flaw
vsmistake
145 3.0

A weakness in a plan or idea that makes it fail

covers wrong actions, decisions, and parts, not only imperfections in plans
bug
vsmistake
  • Specialized
110 2.8

An error in a computer program that makes it not work correctly

is the general term for wrong actions, decisions, or parts beyond software
confusion
vsmistake
60 1.8

A mistake when one thing is thought to be another

is the general word for incorrect actions, decisions, or parts, not only mixed cases
mix-up
vsmistake
58 3.3

A mistake that happens when someone confuses one thing with another

is the general term for wrong actions, decisions, or parts beyond confusion
blunder
vsmistake
45 3.0

A careless mistake that causes embarrassment or problems

is the broad everyday term covering many incorrect things, not only big cases
misstep
vsmistake
42 5.3

A small wrong action that causes embarrassment or harm to people's trust

is the broad word for many kinds of incorrect actions or parts
screw-up
vsmistake
  • Informal
34 6.1

A careless mistake that causes problems or embarrassment

is the general neutral word for many kinds of wrong acts or parts
oversight
vsmistake
31 4.7

A small mistake that someone does not notice

is the broad word for incorrect actions, decisions, or parts whether noticed or not
miscalculation
vsmistake
28 4.2

A wrong estimate of numbers or plans that causes problems

covers many kinds of incorrect things beyond numeric estimates
inaccuracy
vsmistake
24 4.9

A mistake in information or measurement

is the common term for a wrong action, decision, or part
misstatement
vsmistake
12 5.8

An incorrect statement that gives the wrong facts

is the general word for incorrect actions, decisions, or parts, not only statements
misjudgment
vsmistake
  • US
9 3.6

A wrong decision about a person or situation

is broader, applying to actions, parts, and not only judgments
trip
vsmistake
  • Informal
9 3.5

A small mistake that causes embarrassment

is the general term for incorrect actions, decisions, or parts, not only small slips
tragic mistake
vsmistake
7 4.1

A very serious error that causes great harm or loss

is the general term for incorrect actions, decisions, and parts, not only tragedies
dumb mistake
vsmistake
  • Informal
5 2.8

A careless, foolish error that causes problems

is the general word for incorrect actions, decisions, or parts without tone
foul-up
vsmistake
  • Informal
5 7.7

A serious, embarrassing mistake often caused by confusion or poor planning

is the neutral broad word for many less or more serious wrongs
false step
vsmistake
3 5.6

A wrong action or decision that hurts progress

is used for any incorrect action, decision, or part, not only setbacks
misspelling
vsmistake
3 2.7

A word written with the wrong letters or order

is the broad term for wrong actions, choices, or parts, not just spelling
botch
vsmistake
2 7.6

An embarrassing mistake that happens because of bad or careless work

is the wide term for incorrect actions, decisions, and parts
misprision
vsmistake
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A wrong understanding of what someone wrote or said

is the broad term for incorrect action, decision, or part, not only misreadings
mismeasurement
vsmistake
1 7.4

An incorrect amount or size you find when you check something

applies widely to actions, decisions, and parts, not just measurements
misreckoning
vsmistake
1 9.5

An error in calculating numbers or amounts

is the general term for incorrect actions, decisions, and parts broadly
misdoing
vsmistake
6.9

A mistake in the way something is done that causes a problem

is the general neutral term used for many kinds of incorrect things
cockbrained mistake
vsmistake
  • Archaic
9.9

A foolish mistake made without thinking that causes trouble

is the broad neutral term for many incorrect actions or parts
gigundous mistake
vsmistake
  • Informal
8.5

A very large mistake that causes big problems

is the common term for any incorrect action, decision, or part

Compounds

A very serious error that causes great harm or loss

dumb mistake
  • Informal
5 2.8

A careless, foolish error that causes problems

Wrong use of language rules when speaking or writing

9.9

An embarrassing error caused by automatic text filters that change words into something silly

9.9

A foolish mistake made without thinking that causes trouble

9.9

A funny or awkward English error in translations by non-native speakers

fuckball mistake
  • Offensive
9.9

A very serious and foolish error that causes big problems

8.5

A very large mistake that causes big problems

9.9

A mistake made the day before yesterday

How Serious

disaster
∞ 1.0
blunder
45 3.0
mistake
∞ 1.0
error
608 1.0
slip
58 1.6

Surface Forms

mistake singular
mistakes plural

Etymology

Mistake comes from the parts mis- 'wrong' and take 'to take', so it once meant 'to take an action the wrong way'. That's why a mistake often means an error or a wrong action.