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blunder

blunder

45 3.0
A careless mistake that causes embarrassment or problems
  • noun
  • /ˈblʌndər/
: error
  • I'm embarrassed to admit that I made a blunder during the meeting that confused everyone.
  • make a blunder
  • a serious blunder
  • commit a blunder

So the Americans made very serious blunders in the first decade of this century.

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Examples

  • Not to put too fine a point on it, Inspector, but your latest blunder is front page news.

  • It was a blunder of epic proportions.

  • That was quite the blunder on your part, would you say?

  • You committed a blunder yesterday.

  • What a stupid blunder for them to make giving us both the same suite.

  • I mean, that was like the most enormous strategic blunder from my point of view.

  • The episode was widely reported as a blunder; but at worst, the original calculation was simply incomplete.

    Academic text (1998)
  • So the Americans made very serious blunders in the first decade of this century.

  • The end result is certainly one of the major regulatory blunders in US history.

    Academic text (2000)
  • It's a tragic blunder.

Synonyms

mistake
vsblunder
∞ 1.0

A wrong action or decision

is the specific careless embarrassing error rather than any incorrect act
mix-up
vsblunder
58 3.3

A mistake that happens when someone confuses one thing with another

is the general careless embarrassing error not limited to confusion
boo-boo
vsblunder
  • Baby Talk
54 7.2

A small mistake or little injury described in a childlike way

is a more serious or adult form of careless mistakes
gaffe
vsblunder
47 7.7

A remark or action made by accident that is embarrassing

is the general embarrassing mistake not only for speech or social errors
misstep
vsblunder
42 5.3

A small wrong action that causes embarrassment or harm to people's trust

includes this but also applies to larger careless failures
screw-up
vsblunder
  • Informal
34 6.1

A careless mistake that causes problems or embarrassment

is similar but not necessarily as severe
screwup
vsblunder
  • Informal
25 6.5

A problem that happens because of a big mistake and spoils plans

is the general term for careless mistakes that may be less extreme
faux pas
vsblunder
15 8.8

An embarrassing act or remark that upsets people in social situations

is broader and covers many careless or technical mistakes beyond social acts
slip-up
vsblunder
15 3.7

A small careless mistake you make by accident

is broader and can mean more serious or clumsy errors
stumble
vsblunder
13 3.4

A small mistake that is often embarrassing

covers careless errors as well as accidental ones
blooper
vsblunder
12 6.1

An embarrassing mistake that happens in public or during a show

is broader and applies beyond public performance mistakes
trip
vsblunder
  • Informal
9 3.5

A small mistake that causes embarrassment

is the more general word for careless embarrassing errors
fuckup
vsblunder
  • Offensive
7 9.9

A serious or embarrassing mistake that causes problems

is the general term for careless errors that may be less severe
boner
vsblunder
  • Archaic
7 8.2

A silly or embarrassing mistake

is the same error type but without the silly tone
dumb mistake
vsblunder
  • Informal
5 2.8

A careless, foolish error that causes problems

is more neutral focusing on carelessness rather than poor judgment
foul-up
vsblunder
  • Informal
5 7.7

A serious, embarrassing mistake often caused by confusion or poor planning

is similar but usually implies less severity or organizational failure
flub
vsblunder
  • Informal
5 7.7

An embarrassing mistake made when someone is careless or nervous

is the general word for this kind of embarrassing mistake
miscue
vsblunder
4 7.7

A small unintentional mistake when speaking, writing, or performing an action

is the general embarrassing mistake often larger than minor slips
botch
vsblunder
2 7.6

An embarrassing mistake that happens because of bad or careless work

is used more generally for careless mistakes beyond poor workmanship
bungle
vsblunder
2 6.5

A careless mistake that shows a lack of skill

is the general embarrassing mistake not necessarily from incompetence
howler
vsblunder
  • Informal
1 7.2

An obvious embarrassing mistake that makes people laugh

is the general embarrassing mistake without extreme ridiculousness
pratfall
vsblunder
1 8.7

An embarrassing mistake someone makes in public

is the general embarrassing mistake that may not be public or physical
major screwup
vsblunder
  • Informal
1 5.6

A big mistake that causes serious problems

is the general careless error often smaller in impact
bloomer
vsblunder
  • Archaic
1 6.7

An embarrassing mistake that shows you were careless

is the same kind of error but not always foolish in nature
cockup
vsblunder
  • Slang
1 9.6

A serious mistake that happens because of confusion or poor planning

is the broader embarrassing error that can be less serious
trip-up
vsblunder
1 6.5

A small mistake that causes embarrassment or trouble

is the general label for careless or embarrassing errors
clanger
vsblunder
  • UK
1 8.5

A big embarrassing mistake that other people notice

is used for careless errors that are not always conspicuous
muff moment
vsblunder
  • Informal
9.9

A short embarrassing mistake you make

is broader and covers careless errors beyond single awkward moments
cockbrained mistake
vsblunder
  • Archaic
9.9

A foolish mistake made without thinking that causes trouble

is the broader careless mistake term not limited to foolishness

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Getting what you want after working hard

Compounds

thud and blunder
  • Informal
9.9

A clumsy way of working that makes repeated mistakes

How Serious

fiasco
78 6.2
blunder
45 3.0
mistake
∞ 1.0
slip-up
15 3.7

Surface Forms

blunder singular
blunders plural

Etymology

Blunder as a noun comes from the same old word blunda 'to shut the eyes', which gave the idea of doing something without seeing clearly. Think of an embarrassing mistake as if it happened while you were working with your eyes closed, and that helps explain why a blunder is a careless or embarrassing error.