blunder

[ bluhn-der ]

noun

1. a gross, stupid, or careless mistake:

   That's your second blunder this morning.

   Synonyms: error

verb (used without object)

1. to move or act blindly, stupidly, or without direction or steady guidance:

   Without my glasses I blundered into the wrong room.

2. to make a gross or stupid mistake, especially through carelessness or mental confusion:

   Just pray that he doesn't blunder again and get the names wrong.

verb (used with object)

1. to bungle; botch:

   Several of the accounts were blundered by that new assistant.

2. to utter thoughtlessly; blurt out:

   He blundered his surprise at their winning the award.

blunder

/ ˈblʌndə /

noun

1. a stupid or clumsy mistake
2. a foolish tactless remark

verb

1. to make stupid or clumsy mistakes
2. to make foolish tactless remarks
3. often foll byabout, into, etc to act clumsily; stumble

   he blundered into a situation he knew nothing about

4. tr to mismanage; botch

Derived Forms

• ˈblunderer, noun
• ˈblundering, nounadjective
• ˈblunderingly, adverb

Other Words From

• blunder·er noun
• blunder·ing·ly adverb
• non·blunder·ing adjective noun
• non·blunder·ing·ly adverb
• outblunder verb (used with object)
• super·blunder noun
• un·blunder·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blunder¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English blunderen, blondren (verb), from Old Norse blunda “to shut one's eyes, nap”; compare Norwegian dialect blundra

Word History and Origins

Origin of blunder¹

C14: of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse blunda to close one's eyes, Norwegian dialect blundra ; see blind

Synonym Study

See mistake.

Example Sentences

In his statement on Wednesday, he called the Harris campaign's continued support of Israel a blunder.

From Salon

But then, he suddenly stopped, committing what became a game-changing mental blunder.

From Los Angeles Times

My friends in Los Angeles were texting me — the token New York Yankees fan for most of them — as their elation grew, error after Yankees error, mental blunder after mental blunder, leading to greater and greater Dodgers mania.

From Los Angeles Times

And the reason why is best illustrated by the Operation Pathway catastrophe blunder of 2009.

From BBC

Forgotten about this Series, and just as damaging to the Dodgers as Owen’s blunder: Freddie Fitzsimmons was sailing along in Game 3, shutting out the Yankees, when the final out of the seventh — a line drive by Marius Russo — bounced off Fitzsimmons’ leg, breaking his kneecap.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blooper
• error
• fault
• gaffe
• goof
• inaccuracy
• indiscretion
• lapse
• oversight