by mistake
Not on purpose
By mistake means unintentionally or in error—doing something you didn't mean to do: I took your umbrella by mistake, She deleted the file by mistake.
The phrase emphasizes that the action was accidental rather than deliberate.
Compare with on purpose, its opposite.
Without conscious intention
- unwittinglyWithout awareness or intention
- involuntarilyWithout deliberate intent
- accidentallyWithout intent or design
- unplannedNot arranged beforehand
unintended · unpremeditated · unexpectedly · unthinkingly · carelessly · heedlessly · unknowingly · unconsciously
Foolish, costly mistake
- faux pasSocial misstep or indiscretion
- gaffeClumsy social error
- flubClumsy error
- goofMinor foolish error
botch · bungle · miscalculation · misjudgment · misunderstanding · inaccuracy · glitch · typo
Minor unfortunate occurrence
- collisionForceful contact between objects
- slipMinor error or misstep
- fallDescend under gravity
- spillAccidental liquid release
crash · wreck · fender-bender · malfunction · breakdown · fluke · misfortune · blunder
Failure to exercise care
- inattentionLack of focus
- carelessnessInattention causing mistakes
- omissionFailure to include
- forgetfulnessFailure to retain information
lapse · inadvertence · neglect · disregard · heedlessness · oversight · unmindfulness · slip-up
Guilt for wrongdoing
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- self-reproachBlaming oneself for wrongdoing
compunction · sorry · apology · forgiveness · amends · reconciliation · mea culpa · pardon
inadvertently
Without conscious intention
- unwittinglyWithout awareness or intention
- involuntarilyWithout deliberate intent
- accidentallyWithout intent or design
unplanned · unintended · unpremeditated · unexpectedly · unthinkingly · carelessly · heedlessly · unknowingly · unconsciously
blunder
Foolish, costly mistake
goof · botch · bungle · miscalculation · misjudgment · misunderstanding · inaccuracy · glitch · typo · wrong number
mishap
Minor unfortunate occurrence
spill · crash · wreck · fender-bender · malfunction · breakdown · fluke · misfortune · blunder · stumble
negligence
Failure to exercise care
- inattentionLack of focus
- carelessnessInattention causing mistakes
- omissionFailure to include
forgetfulness · lapse · inadvertence · neglect · disregard · heedlessness · oversight · unmindfulness · slip-up · distraction
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- shamePainful awareness of failure
self-reproach · compunction · sorry · apology · forgiveness · amends · reconciliation · mea culpa · pardon · atonement
by mistakeon purpose
Done with deliberate intent
deliberately · intentionally · by design · purposely · knowingly
mistake, mistaken, mistakes, misstep, mistakenly, mistaking, mistook, mistaken identity