blunder 1 of 2

blunder

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun blunder differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of blunder are error, lapse, mistake, and slip. While all these words mean "a departure from what is true, right, or proper," blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame.

diplomatic blunders

When might error be a better fit than blunder?

The synonyms error and blunder are sometimes interchangeable, but error suggests the existence of a standard or guide and a straying from the right course through failure to make effective use of this.

procedural errors

Where would lapse be a reasonable alternative to blunder?

The meanings of lapse and blunder largely overlap; however, lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause.

a lapse in judgment

When is mistake a more appropriate choice than blunder?

The words mistake and blunder are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error.

dialed the wrong number by mistake

When can slip be used instead of blunder?

While in some cases nearly identical to blunder, slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes.

a slip of the tongue

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of blunder
Noun
Consider how McDonald's had to end an experiment with AI drive-thru ordering due to blunders that led to customer frustration and viral videos on social media. Rishi Kumar, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025 Avoid these 8 common design blunders to make the most of even the smallest garden. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
Verb
Six days after blundering to gift Cole Palmer a fifth-minute goal in the the FA Cup, the Brighton & Hove Albion No 1 provided an assist for a stunning touch and then strike by Kaoru Mitoma in the Premier League rematch between the teams. Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025 But rather than punishing the mistake, the Olympian immediately blundered his rook, leaving it exposed to Eze’s knight. Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 10 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for blunder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blunder
Noun
  • What’s the most common mistake people make when trying to recreate the Honey Deuce at home?
    Emily Cappiello, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Austin Jackson told reporters last month that the players were behind the decision to run laps after committing penalties or mental mistakes in practice.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Jaylen Wright fumbled on a hit from safety John Saunders Jr.... Grayson Murphy sacked Wilson, who nevertheless threw the ball to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a 30 yard TD pass...
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Playing their third road game in five days, the expansion team nearly fumbled a 17-point, first-half lead but got enough stops down the stretch to escape with a 68-67 win over the Washington Mystics on Thursday.
    Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The Wave have been fortunate that Orlando and Washington have also stumbled, keeping the gap small.
    Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Indeed, the Braves overcame an early 5-1 deficit in the series opener Tuesday with four runs in the fourth inning to tie the score, only to give it right back on a night when Spencer Strider stumbled, tying a career high with eight runs allowed in four innings.
    David O'Brien, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • When applied across a $500 million capital investment in net new builds—where UPS systems might account for only a small portion—the effect is at less than 1%, effectively a rounding error in the overall budget.
    Ryan Mallory, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
  • Christian Kuntz for making a bunch of errors at the hot corner.
    Mike Jones, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Kids weren’t tripping over themselves to sit and reach in their free time.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2025
  • The report, which was obtained by The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, said police concluded that Trigg accidentally fell into the pool after tripping and falling on an inflatable chair.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The state’s newest theory is that Zeigler wore a raincoat while shooting his wife and mother-in-law (who was shot with two different guns) and struggling with his father-in-law — despite the customer having the father-in-law’s blood soaked into his pants.
    Gail Hollenbeck, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Serafin pitches Qualtrics as using technology to solve a problem technology created, saying companies now struggle to piece together a coherent picture of their customers across their call centers, apps, websites, text messages, and social media accounts.
    Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 15 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Blunder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blunder. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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