blunder
noun
Blunder — a clumsy, often embarrassing mistake born of carelessness
Definition
An embarrassing mistake
In depth
A blunder is an embarrassing mistake, an error significant enough to cause genuine awkwardness or humiliation, often resulting from carelessness, poor judgment, or simple clumsiness rather than malice. The word carries inherent drama, suggesting an error large or visible enough to draw attention and lasting embarrassment.
Origin
The word likely descends from Middle English blunderen, to stumble or move blindly, possibly related to Old Norse blundra, to shut the eyes. That image of stumbling blindly, acting without clear sight or careful thought, underlies the word's enduring sense of a clumsy, careless error committed without proper attention or foresight.
Usage examples
"His diplomatic blunder strained relations between the two countries for years afterward."
"The chess grandmaster's rare blunder, in an otherwise flawless match, stunned commentators watching the live broadcast."
"She still cringed, decades later, recalling the social blunder that had once seemed, at the time, utterly unforgivable."
How to use it
Blunder is broadly useful across formal and informal writing alike, suited to describing significant, often publicly visible mistakes that carry genuine embarrassment or consequence, slightly more serious in tone than lighter synonyms like 'slip-up.'
Related concepts
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