Definition

1. Noun:

   • A stupid or careless mistake: A "blunder" is a significant error, often caused by lack of attention, poor judgment, or ignorance, that results in an embarrassing or awkward situation.

2. Verb:

   • To make a stupid or careless mistake: To act or speak in a way that is foolishly wrong.
   • To move or act clumsily or blindly: To move in an awkward, unsteady way, as if unable to see clearly or think properly.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Forgetting the client's name during the meeting was a major blunder.
  • The goalkeeper's blunder cost his team the game.

• Verb:

  • I completely blundered by sending the email to the wrong person.
  • In the dark, he blundered into the furniture.

Advanced Usage

• "to blunder into/on/across something": to find something by chance, often while moving clumsily or without a clear plan.
  • While searching for the documents, he blundered upon an old photograph.
• "to blunder out": to say something awkwardly, tactlessly, or without thinking.
  • He blundered out the secret before he realized what he was saying.

Variants and Related Words

• Blunderer (n): a person who often makes blunders.
  • He was known as a blunderer who couldn't be trusted with important tasks.
• Blundering (adj): acting clumsily or making foolish mistakes.
  • His blundering attempt to fix the sink only made it worse.

Synonyms

• Noun: Error, mistake, gaffe, faux pas, slip-up.
• Verb: Err, stumble, fumble, botch, bungle.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Blunder away: to lose or waste something through stupidity or carelessness.
  • He blundered away his inheritance on foolish investments.
• Blunder into: to enter a place or situation by mistake or clumsily.
  • The tourists blundered into a private ceremony.

Related Idioms

• A tactical blunder: a serious mistake in planning or strategy.
  • Invading without sufficient supplies was a tactical blunder.
• To commit a blunder: to make a very obvious and foolish mistake.
  • The politician committed a serious blunder with his offensive remarks.

Noun

1. an embarrassing mistake

Verb

1. utter impulsively
   • He blurted out the secret
   • He blundered his stupid ideas
2. make one's way clumsily or blindly
   • He fumbled towards the door
3. commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake
   • I blundered during the job interview