as in fumbling
to make a mistake
if you slip up in copying the data, the final result will of course be wrong
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Recent Examples of slipping up
The main components have measurement indicators so there’s no chance of slipping up, and the parts can all nest inside the large container for easy storage when you’re done drinking your coffee.
—
Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Aug. 2025
Mark Marino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slipping up
Verb
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However, his key mistakes included an interception, being sacked six times, and fumbling the ball away twice.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
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There is no right moment, and the early scenes are about fumbling steps and the tentativeness of awkward new roles.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Footage of a father stumbling around, apparently carrying the headless body of his baby?—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
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Remaining unclaimed playoff spots The final two playoff spots in the Western Conference are up for grabs, with FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake, the Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes all stumbling towards the finish line.—
Tom Bogert,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Best of all though is Reeves, channeling his own 1989 comic past from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure or a bit of Todd Higgins from Parenthood to bring deadpan delight as the well-meaning but constantly screwing up angel trying to do good but being so bad at it.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
7 Sep. 2025
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As Nick in the present-adjacent day sure knows a hell of a lot about Dante Alighieri, perhaps the best person to criticize him and recognize his gaps in logic and knowledge, and how Nick is so profoundly screwing up his own life, would be Dante himself.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The fine was for tripping Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty in the second quarter of the game.—
Anne Erickson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
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Michkov took a tripping penalty in the game’s first minute in what was his most noticeable moment.—
Kevin Kurz,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slipping up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slipping%20up. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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