Synonyms of error

error

noun

ˈer-ər 

1

as in mistake

an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy

a report on the earthquake contained several unfortunate errors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mistake
• blunder
• inaccuracy
• miscue
• fault
• fumble
• stumble
• misstep
• flub
• gaffe
• goof
• trip
• brick
• screwup
• lapse
• slipup
• oversight
• gaff
• bobble
• slip
• clinker
• clanger
• boob
• fluff
• boo-boo
• misunderstanding
• blooper
• howler
• snafu
• misstatement
• misjudgment
• misinterpretation
• miscalculation
• misconception
• pratfall
• misreading
• misconstruction
• miscomprehension
• bloomer
• misdescription
• misapprehension
• misimpression
• boner
• foul-up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accuracy
• precision
• correctness
• exactness
• strictness
• exactitude
• perfection
• preciseness
• infallibility
• inerrancy

2

as in violation

a breaking of a moral or legal code

we have all committed errors in our lives and strayed from the path of righteousness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• violation
• crime
• sin
• wrongdoing
• felony
• misdeed
• transgression
• trespass
• debt
• sinfulness
• offense
• breach
• misconduct
• lawbreaking
• malefaction
• misdoing
• infringement
• hate crime
• misdemeanor
• fault
• foible
• corruption
• misfeasance
• bias crime
• abuse
• wickedness
• immorality
• illegality
• criminality
• unlawfulness
• iniquity
• depravity
• peccadillo
• licentiousness
• vice
• iniquitousness
• debauchery
• lawlessness
• downfall
• break
• fall
• descent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• innocence
• blamelessness
• impeccability
• noncrime
• virtue
• goodness
• morality
• righteousness
• faultlessness
• guiltlessness
• irreproachability
• virtuousness

3

as in delusion

a false idea or belief

the story only spread the error by repeating the misinterpreted statistics

Synonyms & Similar Words

• delusion
• illusion
• myth
• misunderstanding
• superstition
• misconception
• fallacy
• falsehood
• untruth
• hallucination
• falsity
• misbelief
• distortion
• old wives' tale
• inaccuracy
• misjudgment
• misinterpretation
• misstatement
• misrepresentation
• lie
• pretense
• misperception
• misinformation
• tale
• misapprehension
• fiction
• miscomprehension
• factoid
• sophism
• sophistry
• story
• fib
• misknowledge
• misreport
• half-truth

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• truth
• verity

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun error differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of error are blunder, lapse, mistake, and slip. While all these words mean "a departure from what is true, right, or proper," 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

When would blunder be a good substitute for error?

While the synonyms blunder and error are close in meaning, blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame.

diplomatic blunders

When can lapse be used instead of error?

The words lapse and error are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause.

a lapse in judgment

When is it sensible to use mistake instead of error?

In some situations, the words mistake and error are roughly equivalent. However, mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error.

dialed the wrong number by mistake

When could slip be used to replace error?

Although the words slip and error have much in common, slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes.

a slip of the tongue

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of error

Katrina made no glaring errors during her brief stay on the island. —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026

There’s little room for error for a team trying to compete for a third consecutive Stanley Cup. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2026

Mission managers might have been able to fix that problem, but other software issues made it at first difficult, and ultimately impossible, to fix the pointing error. —Joe Palca, NPR, 26 Feb. 2026

My regretful error was not planning to give myself enough time to properly shop. —Colleen McNally Arnett, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026