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errantly

errantly

1 8.0
In a wrong or wandering way that strays from what is expected
  • adverb
  • /ˈɛrəntli/
translation icon : erróneamente
  • At the time, the conversation was centered on absentee ballots that the Donovan campaign had errantly requested on behalf of a Brattleboro couple who didn't want to vote by absentee ballot.

Examples

  • You errantly declare that Jon errantly declared "Pick: Stanford" while predicting an Oregon win.

    Blog text (13)
  • "Say, you wouldn't do that ..." Leslie was interrupted by another call for Ben, and then Sergeant Stagliano appeared, running and jumping as he made his way through the errantly destroyed palm grove.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • We can see fill in material errantly applied over paint on the entire background.

  • Jon, you errantly declare "Pick: Stanford," even though you correctly predict an Oregon win.

    Blog text (13)
  • You errantly declare that Jon errantly declared "Pick: Stanford" while predicting an Oregon win.

    Blog text (13)
  • Doug Oakley's story errantly suggested that the chief had apologized for the response that night.

    Blog text (16)
  • The US can be errantly likened to a powerfully built, but retarded child, potentially dangerous, but young, immature and easily manipulated

  • However, it did not DK millions of other trades in 134 other symbols, the vast majority of which we assume traded errantly due to the market making of Knight Capital (as admitted by the company), which today saw its biggest drop ever since going public on volume about 60 times greater than its average.

    Blog text (14)
  • Here's hoping he continues to acclimate to the NBA pace and has more stretches where he's moving the ball and taking good shots, and fewer where he's dribbling into traffic and throwing errantly across his body.

    Blog text (6)
  • He errantly assumed that the meeting was scheduled for Thursday instead of Wednesday.

Synonyms

wrongly
vserrantly
65 2.7

In a way that is not correct or fair

is about straying from expectation rather than focusing on fairness or justice
incorrectly
vserrantly
57 1.7

In the wrong way

focuses on wandering away from correct expectations rather than only showing errors
mistakenly
vserrantly
55 3.1

In a wrong way because someone made an error

is about straying from what is correct or expected rather than only error
improperly
vserrantly
49 3.4

In a way that is wrong or not suitable for the situation

emphasizes straying from expected standards or norms rather than only being in error
erroneously
vserrantly
12 6.7

In a mistaken way

highlights straying from the correct or expected path rather than mere error
unwisely
vserrantly
5 4.1

In a way that shows poor judgment

means straying from sensible or expected behaviour rather than mere accidental error
incongruously
vserrantly
3 7.9

In a way that seems out of place for the situation

is about moving away from what is expected, not only mismatching surroundings
wrong
vserrantly
2 1.0

In a way that is not correct

adds the sense of straying or wandering from what is expected, not just error
unadvisedly
vserrantly
2 8.4

To do something without thinking carefully first

emphasizes wandering away from expected conduct rather than merely lacking thought
misguidedly
vserrantly
1 6.4

A wrong way of acting because of bad judgment or wrong beliefs

means straying from what is right or expected because of bad guidance
imprudently
vserrantly
1 7.7

In a way that shows no care for possible bad results

highlights straying from correct or expected choice rather than simple carelessness
incautiously
vserrantly
1 7.0

In a careless way that ignores danger

focuses on wandering from expected caution rather than only making an error
faultily
vserrantly
7.6

In a wrong or broken way

stresses straying from expected correctness or pattern rather than being merely defective
incongruently
vserrantly
7.5

In a way that does not fit or match something else

focuses on straying from expected fit rather than mere lack of agreement
blunderingly
vserrantly
7.7

In a clumsy, careless way that often causes mistakes

is about straying from expected direction, not mainly physical clumsiness or force

Antonyms

686 1.0

To do something in the right way

451 1.0

In the right way without making mistakes

How Wrong

blatantly
58 4.8
errantly
1 8.0
improperly
49 3.4
mistakenly
55 3.1

Surface Forms

errantly positive

Morphology

errantly = errant (transparent) = errant + ly

The adverb is formed by the regular suffix '-ly' from the adjective 'errant', yielding a predictable meaning 'in an erring or wandering manner'.

Etymology

Errantly comes from the old Latin verb errare, which means 'to wander' or 'to stray', and it shares the same root as error. Think of someone or something wandering off the right path — that's why to do something errantly is to act in a mistaken, wandering way.