erring

Definition

Adjective:
- Capable of making errors; prone to mistakes: Describes a person, entity, or action that is fallible or likely to commit errors or sins.
- Straying from what is right or moral; sinning: Describes the state of having deviated from accepted standards, especially moral or ethical ones.

Usage and Examples

As an adjective:
- He acknowledged his own erring nature in the complex situation. (He admitted his own fallible nature in the complex situation.)
- The prophet spoke of forgiveness for the erring souls. (The prophet spoke of forgiveness for the sinning souls.)
- An erring judgment in this case could have serious consequences. (A mistaken judgment in this case could have serious consequences.)

Advanced Usage and Nuances

The erring: Used as a nominalized adjective to refer collectively to people who have sinned or gone astray.
- The sermon focused on redemption for the erring. (The sermon focused on redemption for those who have sinned.)
Erring on the side of...: This is a common idiomatic phrase. Note: This is a distinct phrase where "erring" functions as part of a verb phrase ("to err on the side of"). It is listed here due to its high frequency, but the core word remains "err."
- It's better to err on the side of caution. (It's wiser to choose caution, even if it might be a mistake.)

Variants and Related Words

Err (verb): To make a mistake or be incorrect.
- To err is human; to forgive, divine.
Error (noun): A mistake.
Errant (adjective): Straying from the proper course or standards. Often used in formal or literary contexts (e.g., , ).
Erroneous (adjective): Wrong; incorrect (e.g., ).

Synonyms

Antonyms

Notes on Usage

"Erring" as an adjective is more formal and less common in everyday speech than words like "mistaken" or "fallible." It is often found in religious, philosophical, or literary contexts.
The related verb "to err" is the base form and is used in the common phrase "to err is human."
Be careful not to confuse the adjective "erring" with the present participle of the verb "to err." In a sentence like "He is erring by not listening," the word "erring" is a verb form. As an adjective, it typically describes a characteristic (e.g., ).

Adjective

Khám phá thêm

Các từ liên quan

Từ đồng nghĩa

Từ tương tự

Từ gần giống

Từ chứa "erring"

Từ có nhắc đến "erring"