erroneous
adjective
er·ro·ne·ous
i-ˈrō-nē-əs 
e-
1
2
archaic
: wandering
erroneously
adverb
erroneousness
noun
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How to Define Erroneous
Erroneous basically means "containing errors", and, since most of us are constantly suffering from mistaken notions, the word is often used in front of words such as "assumption" and "idea". It's also used to describe the kind of mistaken information that can lead to erroneous theories, erroneous conclusions, and erroneous decisions.
Synonyms
Examples of erroneous in a Sentence
When you're done, the programs scour your return for potential problems and erroneous data and let you correct them. Then, poof! Either print out your 1040 and related documents or follow the software prompts to file electronically.
—
Kathy Yakal, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 1999
Here we come face-to-face with the uncompromising rules of golf as Mr. Dobereiner recounts how Roberto de Vincenzo lost the 1968 Masters Tournament by a single stroke because he signed an erroneous scorecard.
—Robert R. Harris, New York Times Book Review, 21 Oct. 1984
To say truth, nothing is more erroneous than the common observation, that men who are ill-natured and quarrelsome when they are drunk, are very worthy persons when they are sober: for drink, in reality, doth not reverse nature, or create passions in men which did not exist in them before.
—Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, 1749
a poorly researched news article about the new virus that was filled with much erroneous information
Kathy Yakal, PC Magazine, 9 Mar. 1999
Here we come face-to-face with the uncompromising rules of golf as Mr. Dobereiner recounts how Roberto de Vincenzo lost the 1968 Masters Tournament by a single stroke because he signed an erroneous scorecard.
—Robert R. Harris, New York Times Book Review, 21 Oct. 1984
To say truth, nothing is more erroneous than the common observation, that men who are ill-natured and quarrelsome when they are drunk, are very worthy persons when they are sober: for drink, in reality, doth not reverse nature, or create passions in men which did not exist in them before.
—Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, 1749
a poorly researched news article about the new virus that was filled with much erroneous information
Recent Examples on the Web
The lack of clear details in recent warnings, along with several erroneous alerts, have led some residents to take the messages less seriously.
—Holly Yan, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025
There is also a question whether the IRS has authority to assert penalties on refund claims of employment taxes as the statute that normally allows the IRS to assert penalties on erroneous claims for refund only applies to income taxes.
—Tom Cullinan, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Schiff expressed his support for an investigation into issues surrounding the fires, particularly lack of water supply and the erroneous evacuation alert sent to nearly all Los Angeles residents.
—Julia Reinstein, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2025
County officials apologized Friday after residents across the Los Angeles area continued to receive erroneous emergency alerts that urged them to prepare to evacuate, even though many were not close to any of the fires sweeping across the foothills of the sprawling metropolis.
—Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
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Holly Yan, CNN, 16 Jan. 2025
There is also a question whether the IRS has authority to assert penalties on refund claims of employment taxes as the statute that normally allows the IRS to assert penalties on erroneous claims for refund only applies to income taxes.
—Tom Cullinan, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Schiff expressed his support for an investigation into issues surrounding the fires, particularly lack of water supply and the erroneous evacuation alert sent to nearly all Los Angeles residents.
—Julia Reinstein, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2025
County officials apologized Friday after residents across the Los Angeles area continued to receive erroneous emergency alerts that urged them to prepare to evacuate, even though many were not close to any of the fires sweeping across the foothills of the sprawling metropolis.
—Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for erroneous
Articles Related to erroneous
Dictionary Entries Near erroneous
Cite this Entry
“Erroneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/erroneous. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
erroneous
adjective
er·ro·ne·ous
ir-ˈō-nē-əs
e-ˈrō-
: being wrong or inaccurate
especially
: being or containing an error
an erroneous report
erroneously
adverb
erroneousness
noun
Legal Definition
erroneous
adjective
er·ro·ne·ous
i-ˈrō-nē-əs, e-
: containing or characterized by error see also clearly erroneous
erroneously
adverb
erroneousness
noun
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