Verbs for Making Mistakes

an act or opinion that is wrong

Recognizing and admitting your mistakes is the first step toward personal growth.

to be at fault or make mistakes, especially in one's thinking, judgment, or actions

While erring occasionally is forgivable, persistent or consequential erring may require accountability.

to commit an embarrassing and serious mistake out of carelessness or stupidity

He blundered by sending the email to the wrong recipient.

to ruin a situation through mistakes or poor judgment

He didn't want to screw up the important presentation, so he practiced diligently.

to make a mistake

He didn't mean to insult her, but he slipped up and said something unintentionally hurtful.

to make a mistake

I accidentally fouled up the schedule, causing delays in the project.

to confuse someone, making it difficult for them to understand or think clearly

The intricate maze confounded the participants, leaving them unable to find the exit.

to unintentionally change the arrangement or order of a group of things, often leading to confusion or errors

She often mixes up the order of the steps when following a recipe.

to interpret or understand something incorrectly

She misconstrued his silence as indifference, but he was simply deep in thought.

to form an incorrect opinion or assessment about someone or something

I misjudged her abilities, and she performed much better than I expected.

to develop romantic feelings for someone

Despite their initial disagreements, she couldn't help but fall for him.

to fail to understand the full or true meaning, intention, or scope of a situation, idea, or statement

She misapprehended the instructions and added the wrong ingredients to the recipe.

to read or understand a text incorrectly

He misread the sign and thought the store was closed.

to have an incorrect understanding or idea about something

She misconceived my intentions, thinking I meant to criticize rather than offer support.

to fail to understand something or someone correctly

He misunderstood the meeting time and arrived an hour early.

to understand or explain something incorrectly

She misinterpreted his words and thought he was upset when he wasn't.