misstep
noun
mis·step
ˌmis-ˈstep 
1
: a mistake in judgment or action : blunder
missteps that led to the project's failure
2
: a wrong step
took a misstep and fell
Examples of misstep in a Sentence
Their decision to relocate the company was a major misstep.
another misstep like that, and the company could go belly-up
Recent Examples on the Web
That changed with the CDC Leadership Accountability Act of 2023, which meant, as the name suggests, to boost accountability at the agency following missteps during the pandemic.
—
Erika Edwards, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
In his first inaugural address in 2019, DeSantis touched on voting and elections briefly, referring to missteps by county election supervisors in Broward and Palm Beach.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
And the decision not to show the Jewish settlers, while understandable — Jacir wants to focus on the Arabs’ struggle against the British, who were the prime movers behind the events of 1936 — feels like a misstep.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Four of the five members of the Board of Fire Commissioners, which oversees the Los Angeles Fire Department, are stepping down at a time when the department is under intense scrutiny because of its missteps in handling the devastating Palisades fire.
—Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misstep
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Erika Edwards, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
In his first inaugural address in 2019, DeSantis touched on voting and elections briefly, referring to missteps by county election supervisors in Broward and Palm Beach.
—Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
And the decision not to show the Jewish settlers, while understandable — Jacir wants to focus on the Arabs’ struggle against the British, who were the prime movers behind the events of 1936 — feels like a misstep.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Four of the five members of the Board of Fire Commissioners, which oversees the Los Angeles Fire Department, are stepping down at a time when the department is under intense scrutiny because of its missteps in handling the devastating Palisades fire.
—Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for misstep
Cite this Entry
“Misstep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/misstep. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
misstep
noun
mis·step
(ˈ)mis-ˈstep
1
: a wrong step
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