erring 1 of 2

adjective

as in errant

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erring

2 of 2

verb

present participle of err
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

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 erring
Verb
The uncertainty means that many shipowners are still erring on the side of caution, so movement through the strait is more of a trickle than a rush. — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 25 June 2026 That’s T’Vondre Sweat, the Jets’ 366-pound defensive tackle — and 366 might be erring on the lighter side of his true weight. — Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 19 June 2026 Hints of light toffee and honey tones give this espresso-brown base a more dimensional and lively look without erring on too much contrast. — Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 2 June 2026 Somewhere along the way, pot roast has picked up a reputation for erring on the dry or flavorless side. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Apr. 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
  1. errant
  2. stumbling
  3. trespassing
  4. unscrupulous
  5. fumbling
  6. wandering
  7. fallen
  8. tripping
Adjective
  • The crash could reveal new information about what happens in the immediate aftermath of an impact on the lunar surface and offer insights into the hazards of errant space junk to the moon.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 20 July 2026
  • The behavior of the team’s star players during the series—an errant throw here, a hit batter there—raised suspicions immediately.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 July 2026
Definition of errant
Verb
  • Last year, a bison tragically boiled to death after stumbling into one of Yellowstone's hot springs.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
  • If your dog is stumbling, lethargic, vomiting, collapses or is unresponsive, contact a vet immediately while working to cool down your dog.
    — Cody Godwin, USA Today, 16 July 2026
Definition of stumbling
Verb
  • The company sued him for trespassing on its vacant property next to his home.
    — Jena Brooker, ProPublica, 6 July 2026
  • Instead of Cady as rapist, Cape Fear seems to be going for a general theme of Cady as violator, someone who is trespassing not singularly on a female body but on the Bowdens’ trustworthiness.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Definition of trespassing
Adjective
  • However, a power of attorney can also allow an unscrupulous person to take advantage of you by moving money into his own account, paying his own bills, making cash withdrawals, or selling your real estate.
    — Christine Fletcher, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • The fire killed 168 people, most likely because of unscrupulous contractors who used shoddy materials.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of unscrupulous
Verb
  • The Sky rank 13th in the league with a 7-16 record after fumbling a fourth-quarter lead Sunday in a loss to the Dallas Wings.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
  • The Rockies’ Jake McCarthy pulled McDonald’s second pitch of the day into Triples Alley and never stopped running, taking advantage of right fielder Jung Hoo Lee fumbling the ball.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 12 July 2026
Definition of fumbling
Verb
  • The animal dragged the bag across the course before wandering off, leaving the golfers with a story that’s sure to be a hole-in-one at the clubhouse.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • Following in the wasteland-wandering footsteps of its successful Fallout series, Amazon Prime is tripling down on live-action game adaptations.
    — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Definition of wandering
Adjective
  • Three of the fallen soldiers whose bodies were returned to the United States were killed by Iranians attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.
    — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 23 July 2026
  • The broadcaster went on to shout out a couple of his fallen comrades.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026
Definition of fallen
Verb
  • Among them was Argentina’s Leandro Paredes appearing to grab Spain’s Eric García by the throat before others started shoving and tripping each other to the turf.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
  • In March, Melissa Graybill, 52, watched her mother, who is 69, begin an arduous recovery journey after tripping while getting off a horse.
    — Erica Sloan, Washington Post, 14 July 2026
Definition of tripping

Browse Nearby Words

erred
erring
erroneous
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Cite this Entry

“Erring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/erring. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of erring for Spanish Speakers

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