as in errant
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in stumbling
to make a mistake
we badly erred when we calculated the driving distance
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in trespassing
to commit an offense
when we err, we must be willing to accept the consequences
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of erring
James Hansen, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Welch grew privately concerned that Biden was too old to run again and, later, that Harris was erring by running to the middle.
—Rachel Monroe, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2026
Finding words with mass awareness and appeal — which don’t succumb to greenwashing by erring on the vague side — can be difficult, adds Elizabeth Richman, who leads the sustainability strategy at Eileen Fisher in her role as general counsel.
—Bella Webb, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
As such, there are certain similarities with erring politicians who some believe become undone by a mixture of various traits that tends not to exist in the wider population.
—Roger Trapp, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
As when Djokovic pummelled the ball into Sinner’s forehand in their Australian Open semifinal, his timing on that wing was this week susceptible to erring.
—James Hansen, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Welch grew privately concerned that Biden was too old to run again and, later, that Harris was erring by running to the middle.
—Rachel Monroe, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2026
Finding words with mass awareness and appeal — which don’t succumb to greenwashing by erring on the vague side — can be difficult, adds Elizabeth Richman, who leads the sustainability strategy at Eileen Fisher in her role as general counsel.
—Bella Webb, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2025
As such, there are certain similarities with erring politicians who some believe become undone by a mixture of various traits that tends not to exist in the wider population.
—Roger Trapp, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for erring
Adjective
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Ureña’s errant throw on Meyers’ tapper gifted their first runner of the sixth.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
29 Mar. 2026
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The game was tied at 64 with 26 seconds remaining when Hidalgo jumped to grab an almost errant pass from a teammate, then found Cassandre Prosper for the go-ahead basket.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Occasionally, King’s assistants, a pair of bulky guys with law-enforcement backgrounds, offered the stumbling line a corrective shove.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Ducks started their trip up five points on Connor McDavid and company, but held just a three-point edge after stumbling 4-2 on Saturday.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Transit officials said the fence was essential and long overdue to prevent people from trespassing on the tracks and being killed, as trains were becoming faster and more frequent.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
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On Monday, March 2, two weeks before the fire, the person living in the basement apartment in the building complained to the property manager that Slate was trespassing in the maintenance and boiler area, Pekara said.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Supporters hope that the bill, which is similar to ordinances in Denver, Fort Collins, Aurora, and other local jurisdictions, will prevent the sale of puppies bred by unscrupulous puppy mills where dogs and cats are confined in tiny cages bearing one litter after another.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
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In the 1995 film, Carrey’s pet detective character hides inside a fake rhinocerous to spy on unscrupulous types in a safari setting.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Nothing erodes confidence faster than fumbling for lockboxes, waiting on unresponsive listing agents, or showing a space that clearly doesn’t fit.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
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Last season’s Detroit Tigers endured the worst divisional collapse in history, fumbling an AL Central lead that reached 15 1/2 games in July.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After six months of backpacking, Martha was feeling very Taoist, very detached, just a big naked eyeball wandering around, absorbing all the astonishing things there were to see at the frayed edges of a defunct feudal empire.—
Cassandra Neyenesch,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
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Though the original clip is authentic, showing seven dogs wandering down the side of a highway in northeastern Jilin province, Chinese state media has since debunked the narrative of their escape and journey home.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Northbound Foothill Boulevard was closed at Ash Street due to the crash, and the middle and far right lanes of southbound Foothill Boulevard were closed due to a fallen tree, the CHP said in a social media post.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Photos on local media and social networks showed fallen trees in Zagreb, pulled out by their roots, some blocking streets or damaging parked cars.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Right after Charlie Coyle began serving a tripping penalty, Alex Wennberg won a draw in the Blue Jackets zone back to Dmitry Orlov, who slid the puck over to Celebrini for a one-timer that beat Elvis Merzlikins 57 seconds into the third period.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Pittsburgh opened the third period on the power play with a two-man advantage after Ottawa took a late tripping penalty and got called early too many men.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Erring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/erring. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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