blunder 1 of 2

blunder

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun blunder differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of blunder are error, lapse, mistake, and slip. While all these words mean "a departure from what is true, right, or proper," blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame.

diplomatic blunders

When might error be a better fit than blunder?

The synonyms error and blunder are sometimes interchangeable, but 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

Where would lapse be a reasonable alternative to blunder?

The meanings of lapse and blunder largely overlap; however, lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause.

a lapse in judgment

When is mistake a more appropriate choice than blunder?

The words mistake and blunder are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error.

dialed the wrong number by mistake

When can slip be used instead of blunder?

While in some cases nearly identical to blunder, slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes.

a slip of the tongue

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 blunder
Noun
Still, many in Kenya condemned the talks as a political blunder by President William Ruto, and called on him to reverse course. Declan Walsh, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2025 The verdict came after a blunder by Miami-Dade state prosecutors, who felt the need to apologize to jurors for not identifying a purse on the couch next to where Knighton was sitting in Blount’s apartment when she was shot. Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
But the real answer - Bang! Zoom! - is actually a classic comedy called The Life of Riley, which began its one season run on NBC on October 4, 1949 with Jackie Gleason (pre-Ralph Kramden in The Honeymooners) as the blundering family man Chester A. Riley. Marc Berman, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025 Philly is 10-17, 24th in net rating, and almost half of its wins are over the blundering Charlotte Hornets. Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for blunder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blunder
Noun
  • The lawsuit also alleges that another member had made the same mistake a few weeks later with no punishment.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Squandering these opportunities would be a huge mistake for any business that wants to continually drive CX improvements.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • And Volodymyr Zelenskyy also fumbled the bag pretty hard.
    CBS News, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Arriving in England in 1929, Queenie fumbled around on the edges of the entertainment business, hoping to be an actor.
    Carolyn Kellogg, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • However, the Indian stock market has stumbled recently, with the BSE 500 shedding 19% from its recent peak last September—this after climbing 14.8% in 2024 and 25.1% in 2023.
    Garth Friesen, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Skype won attention in the 2000s for giving people a way to talk without paying the phone company, but stumbled in the mobile era and didn’t enjoy a major resurgence during the pandemic.
    Jordan Novet, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The pressure to manage heavy caseloads, navigate complex legal systems and meet client demands often leaves little room for error (or rest).
    Raquel Gomes, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Unfortunately, errors happen not just to us, but to others.
    Peter White, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Lamine Yamal caught up with him, bumped into him and tripped the centre back to the ground.
    Laia Cervelló Herrero, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Colorado dropped 13 games in a row to open the conference season before tripping UCF.
    Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, Courtney Eaton is still struggling to accept Lottie’s fate while playing the character’s teen counterpart in the ’90s wilderness.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman,wife Betsy Arakawa, found dead in their home Gene Hackman's health struggles: What is angina?
    Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blunder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blunder. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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