misstep

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misstep

He made a clumsy misstep on the uneven sidewalk.

Definition

Noun: 1. An unintentional but embarrassing mistake or blunder, often a social or tactical error. A misstep is a wrong step, either literal or figurative, that causes a minor failure or awkward situation. It implies a lapse in judgment or a clumsy action.

Usage

The word "misstep" is used to describe an error that is noticeable and often causes embarrassment or a setback, but is typically not catastrophic. It is commonly applied to social situations, career decisions, or public actions.

Examples
  • His offensive joke at the meeting was a major misstep that damaged his reputation.
  • The company's misstep in pricing the new product led to poor initial sales.
  • After one political misstep, the candidate fell in the polls.
  • She recovered gracefully from her misstep on the dance floor.
Advanced Usage
  • "To make a misstep": This is the most common collocation, emphasizing the action of committing the error.
    • The CEO made a serious misstep by ignoring the market research.
  • "A costly misstep": Highlights that the error had significant negative consequences.
    • Failing to secure the patent was a costly misstep for the startup.
Variants and Related Words
  • Misstep functions solely as a noun. There is no direct verb form "to misstep" in common usage; the action is described with phrases like "to make a misstep" or "to take a misstep."
  • Stumble (n.): Can be a close synonym for a literal misstep or a minor error.
  • Trip (n.): Often used interchangeably with "misstep" for a literal physical error in stepping.
  • Blunder (n.): A more serious or stupid mistake.
  • Faux pas (n.): A synonym specifically for a social blunder or breach of etiquette.
Synonyms
  • Blunder
  • Faux pas
  • Slip
  • Stumble
  • Error
  • Gaffe
  • Trip (literal)
Antonyms
  • Success
  • Triumph
  • Correct move
  • Prudent action
Related Idioms and Phrases
  • "A false step": A direct synonym for "misstep," often used in formal or literary contexts.
    • His first false step was trusting the wrong advisor.
misstep

He made a clumsy misstep on the uneven sidewalk.

Noun
  1. an unintentional but embarrassing blunder
    • he recited the whole poem without a single trip
    • he arranged his robes to avoid a trip-up later
    • confusion caused his unfortunate misstep

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