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
Smart’s Bulldogs could now do with the Crimson Tide slipping up to improve their conference prospects, with Texas A&M still out in front as the SEC’s only unbeaten team.
—
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
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
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slipping up
Verb
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The image of Gobert fumbling with the ball and having his shot attempt rim out has been a lasting one.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Georgia Tech also went 3 of 6, fumbling at the BYU 11-yard line in the third quarter and having a 35-yard field goal by Aidan Birr blocked late in the quarter.—
CBS News Atlanta Digital Team,
CBS News,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Whether Allen was in the process of turning and running away or stumbling in a chaotic scene in a wobbly subway car was unclear.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
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After stumbling out to a 13-15 start this season, the Warriors went 12-4 over the past month to rise to eighth in the Western Conference.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Right now, Iranians are blaming, appropriately, the regime for screwing up the country.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
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Tim overcame his fear of screwing up again and asked Lucy to move in.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Early in the third period, Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov was checking with his stick instead of his body when he was called for tripping former Blue Jackets forward Yegor Chinakhov.—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
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The police footage shows the man turning and bolting away from officers before quickly tripping over his own feet just a few steps past his car.—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slipping up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slipping%20up. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
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