blunder 1 of 2

blunder

2 of 2

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
Arizona would have run Kansas State off the field Friday night but for a series of blunders. Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025 With his latest weigh-in blunder, there's no telling whether Dana White, who has publicly criticized Gastelum for his egregious weigh-in mishaps in the past, will cut the longtime vet. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
Gene and Wendell wouldn’t start to look for me until dark, and this bear was nothing to blunder into at night. Howard Copenhaver, Outdoor Life, 23 Apr. 2025 The emerging consensus is that former CEO John Donahoe, who held the job from January 2020 to October 2024, blundered by expanding direct-to-consumer e-commerce at the expense of traditional retail. Peter Georgescu, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for blunder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blunder
Noun
  • But Trump has seemed to suggest that the drone incident may have been a mistake.
    Michelle Stoddart, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Consumer Behavior Supports Continued Innovation One of leaders’ biggest mistakes during volatile periods is assuming all consumer behavior changes negatively.
    Talbott Roche, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Lucille Ball once lost her glasses on stage at the Emmys and had to fumble her way through.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Seconds thereafter, the Clippers fumbled the ball away once again, setting up Gloucester with another short field.
    Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Inspired by true events, The Rip centers on a team of Miami police officers who stumble upon millions in cash during a raid of a stash house.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The Rise of Long-Horizon Capital Where VCs stumbled, others seized control.
    Sindhya Valloppillil, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • An aircraft flying without GPS can accumulate miles of error in just hours.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
  • FanDuel acknowledged the error in the way the game score was displayed and pinned it on a third-party provider.
    Contessa Brewer,Alex Sherman, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Several videos begin with Taddese’s friend, who wore a white shirt and gray pants, pushing a persondown as that individual trips him.
    PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025
  • In Bora Bora, trips with Bora Diving Center (by Eleuthera) are another good bet for seeing mantas and schooling eagle rays within the famous lagoon.
    Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Traditional data lakes can store raw data at scale but lack quality controls, while warehouses enforce structure but struggle with unstructured or fast changing data.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Almost half of those who abided by boundaries (45%) reported low burnout, compared to 6% of those who struggled to do so.
    Samantha Dewalt, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blunder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blunder. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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