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
While people are generally gracious about missteps, recent surges in tourist numbers are starting to strain that vaunted hospitality.
—
Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
4 July 2026
Minor missteps—or sometimes simply existing in a visible role—can become grounds for scrutiny and criticism.
—
Jallicia Jolly,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Initially, both teams looked to be treading carefully, wary of a misstep now in the knockout stage.
—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
The moment added to a string of small but visible missteps that have defined parts of the 16-day fair’s early run.
—
Mike Stunson,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for misstep
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Jessica Kozuka,
Travel + Leisure,
4 July 2026
Minor missteps—or sometimes simply existing in a visible role—can become grounds for scrutiny and criticism.
—
Jallicia Jolly,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
Initially, both teams looked to be treading carefully, wary of a misstep now in the knockout stage.
—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
30 June 2026
The moment added to a string of small but visible missteps that have defined parts of the 16-day fair’s early run.
—
Mike Stunson,
USA Today,
30 June 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 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
misstep
noun
mis·step
(ˈ)mis-ˈstep
1
: a wrong step
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