miscalculation
noun
mis·cal·cu·la·tion
ˌmis-ˌkal-kyə-ˈlā-shən 
plural miscalculations
: a mistake in calculation : wrong calculation
a costly miscalculation
… ruled that utility shareholders, not electricity consumers, must pay for some or all of the miscalculations that resulted in excessive expansion or cost overruns.—
Peter Nulty
Peter NultyExamples of miscalculation in a Sentence
treating her opponent as an intellectual lightweight was a serious miscalculation on her part
Recent Examples on the Web
Delays and miscalculations have pushed the delivery date back and increased the contract cost by billions.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 30 May 2025
The United States and its partners fear that a nuclear-armed Iran could set off an atomic arms race in the Middle East and contribute to instability there, sharply raising the stakes for any miscalculation between rivals.
—Steven Erlanger, New York Times, 17 May 2025
With both countries on high alert and nationalist sentiment running hot, the risk of miscalculation or accidental escalation is far greater than analysts and the public seem to understand.
—Sushant Singh, Foreign Affairs, 29 Apr. 2025
That miscalculation opened the door for New York to sign him to a four-year, $104 million deal.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 23 May 2025
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Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 30 May 2025
The United States and its partners fear that a nuclear-armed Iran could set off an atomic arms race in the Middle East and contribute to instability there, sharply raising the stakes for any miscalculation between rivals.
—Steven Erlanger, New York Times, 17 May 2025
With both countries on high alert and nationalist sentiment running hot, the risk of miscalculation or accidental escalation is far greater than analysts and the public seem to understand.
—Sushant Singh, Foreign Affairs, 29 Apr. 2025
That miscalculation opened the door for New York to sign him to a four-year, $104 million deal.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for miscalculation
Cite this Entry
“Miscalculation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miscalculation. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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