error

noun

ˈer-ər How to pronounce error (audio)
Definition of errornext
1
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy a report on the earthquake contained several unfortunate errors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in offence
a breaking of a moral or legal code we have all committed errors in our lives and strayed from the path of righteousness

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in delusion
a false idea or belief the story only spread the error by repeating the misinterpreted statistics

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun error differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of error are blunder, lapse, mistake, and slip. While all these words mean "a departure from what is true, right, or proper," error suggests the existence of a standard or guide and a straying from the right course through failure to make effective use of this.

procedural errors

When would blunder be a good substitute for error?

While the synonyms blunder and error are close in meaning, blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame.

diplomatic blunders

When can lapse be used instead of error?

The words lapse and error are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause.

a lapse in judgment

When is it sensible to use mistake instead of error?

In some situations, the words mistake and error are roughly equivalent. However, mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error.

dialed the wrong number by mistake

When could slip be used to replace error?

Although the words slip and error have much in common, slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes.

a slip of the tongue

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of error This copy may not be in its final form, may be updated and may contain minor transcription errors. —ABC News, 2 Mar. 2025 One, the error rates are really high, but so are normal computers’. —Billy Perrigo, TIME, 2 Mar. 2025 The event is the latest mistake disclosed by the Wall Street bank, which is struggling to overcome a series of operational errors in recent years. —Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2025 Gibney explores her long career, her occasional errors and her innovative work in diagnosing and understanding multiple personality disorder. —Jason Bailey, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for error
Recent Examples of Synonyms for error
  1. mistake
  2. delusion
  3. blunder
  4. violation
  5. illusion
  6. crime
  7. myth
  8. sin
Noun
  • The lawsuit also alleges that another member had made the same mistake a few weeks later with no punishment.
    — David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Squandering these opportunities would be a huge mistake for any business that wants to continually drive CX improvements.
    — Bernard Marr, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of mistake
Noun
  • Leigh used every moment, every expression, to tell Blanche's story and to illustrate her torment, her delusion, and her desire for affection.
    — EW Staff, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
  • This fact of life discomforts those who refuse to accept the existence of consequences and the politicians whose careers thrive on the delusion that compromise is for the weak.
    — Noah Rothman, National Review, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of delusion
Noun
  • Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors A compilation video featuring three of Wheel of Fortune's most brutal blunders from over the years has become a cringe-watch on social media, scoring more than 4 million views — and fans have been sharing their frustrations.
    — Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The British broadcaster has formally apologized at least 12 times for meaningful editorial blunders since October 7, with eight of those apologies being made for output that could be considered anti-Israel or pro-Palestine in nature.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of blunder
Noun
  • Poppy Alexander, a partner at Whistleblower Partners who represents whistleblowers reporting corporate FCPA violations, echoes this thinking.
    — Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The violations for each of the officers included standard of conduct violations, death investigation procedure violations and report preparation violations.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of violation
Noun
  • Then finding a solution for them, but more give them the illusion of choice.
    — Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The 400-year-old fort is famed for its mirror work on the walls and 3D carvings creating illusions on its pillars.
    — Shalbha Sarda, Architectural Digest, 4 Mar. 2025
Definition of illusion
Noun
  • Ahead of the documentary's Netflix premiere on March 7, here's what happened to the Manson Family in the decades since their crimes.
    — Randall Colburn, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2025
  • His clemency toward those convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection – including seditious conspiracy and assaults on police officers – was different in key ways from the two previous efforts, by Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Ulysses S. Grant in 1873.
    — David Cason, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of crime
Noun
  • This is the foundational myth that sustains a tendency towards intellectual tyranny.
    — Jacob Hale Russell, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025
  • And Patton’s memorable opening speech hints at the film’s hesitancy about turning men into myths.
    — Will Leitch, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025
Definition of myth
Noun
  • Luther taught instead that God freely forgives the sins of believers.
    — Michael Bruening, The Conversation, 25 Feb. 2025
  • The pope’s hospitalization comes during the Vatican’s celebration of the jubilee, a tradition in the Catholic Church dedicated to the remission of sins that occurs every 50 years.
    — Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2025
Definition of sin

Browse Nearby Words

error
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Error.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/error. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on error

Nglish: Translation of error for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about error

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

13 Unusually Long English Words

9 Superb Owl Words

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things
See More

Popular Features

See More

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

13 Unusually Long English Words

9 Superb Owl Words
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
girl-pencil-test
Challenging Standardized Test Words Quiz Vol. 3 You’re on your own for the math section.
See All