as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
the president should not be making boo-boos in something as important as the State of the Union Address
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 boo-boo
That’s why the pushback by politicians against Homeland Security’s big, beautiful boo-boo has been quick — and hilarious.
—
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
When Cody trips and falls in the grass, his friends band together to comfort him and get him a bandage for his boo-boo.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 9 May 2025
Junior Colson made a large rookie boo-boo, hitting a sliding Maye late.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Dec. 2024
In his first start in two weeks, Marc-Andre Fleury survived a first-shift boo-boo and made 28 saves to improve to 4-0-1.
—Michael Russo, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024
The Sun newspaper reports that Robinson made the boo-boo Friday morning during the BBC’s flagship current affairs radio show The Today Programme.
—Caroline Frost, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2024
And because blue cats were purposely introduced in Virginia decades ago to boost recreational fishing opportunities, nobody wants to talk about how that was ultimately a boo-boo.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 16 Nov. 2023
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025
When Cody trips and falls in the grass, his friends band together to comfort him and get him a bandage for his boo-boo.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 9 May 2025
Junior Colson made a large rookie boo-boo, hitting a sliding Maye late.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Dec. 2024
In his first start in two weeks, Marc-Andre Fleury survived a first-shift boo-boo and made 28 saves to improve to 4-0-1.
—Michael Russo, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024
The Sun newspaper reports that Robinson made the boo-boo Friday morning during the BBC’s flagship current affairs radio show The Today Programme.
—Caroline Frost, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2024
And because blue cats were purposely introduced in Virginia decades ago to boost recreational fishing opportunities, nobody wants to talk about how that was ultimately a boo-boo.
—Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 16 Nov. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boo-boo
Noun
-
That’s because investors often interpret diversity crises as signs of systemic failure, rather than isolated mistakes.—
Prachi Gala,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Same for Dax Hill, focusing on going back to work and correcting mistakes.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Potential adversaries interpret political action in zero-sum terms; see malice and evil design in mere blunders and coincidence; trumpet necessity rather than navigate choice; and, in extreme cases, invent pretext or promise profit to make more palatable a dubious cause.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
In the aftermath of the expensive blunder, Schwarzman was quickly pulled aside by an investor.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The defence remains porous, error-prone and vulnerable on corners.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The Times’ error immediately garnered write-ups in The Washington Post, The New York Times, New York Magazine, and other outlets.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Boo-boo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boo-boo. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share