1
as in to stumble
to make a mistake
we badly erred when we calculated the driving distance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to trespass
to commit an offense
when we err, we must be willing to accept the consequences
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 err
Years later, Lilian understood people’s fear of the incomprehensible: when something terrible happens to someone, surely that person must have erred in the first place.
—
Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
But most leaders err either by providing too much or too little support.
—Lisa Christen, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
However, Devlin concluded in his analysis that police erred in swarming the vehicle and instead should have kept their distance and evaluated the situation.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2025
The United States has also erred by expanding its military bases close to China and Taiwan.
—Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for err
Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
But most leaders err either by providing too much or too little support.
—Lisa Christen, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
However, Devlin concluded in his analysis that police erred in swarming the vehicle and instead should have kept their distance and evaluated the situation.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2025
The United States has also erred by expanding its military bases close to China and Taiwan.
—Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for err
Recent Examples of Synonyms for err
Verb
-
Discovery: On a hike with her family, a 3-year-old stumbled across a 3,800-year-old Egyptian amulet.—
Justin Porter,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Listen to this article The morning after his fifth suicide attempt, Rick Fisher stumbled to a church and pounded on the doors.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Last year, Wheeler served two days in Vernon County jail on six trespassing convictions from 2020, 2022 and 2023.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Reality check: Municipalities could still cite trespassing laws as the reason for removal, but IDHR and advocates say removal and fines just for being unhoused is a violation.—
Carrie Shepherd,
Axios,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
After Hovland calmly made a bogey on the last to secure the win, PGA Tour fans wasted no time grilling Thomas for fumbling a golden opportunity.—
Kevin Sabet,
Newsweek,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Gonzaga did have a shot to tie on its final possession, but Khalif Battle fumbled a handoff and had his desperation 3-pointer blocked by Ja’Vier Francis.—
CJ Moore,
The Athletic,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The vehicle wandered across the road far more than any already ill-handling Defender should, its brakes were weak, and gear shifts were accompanied by a prominent clunk.—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
1 Apr. 2025
-
The banal village tunes that Mahler altered into sinister mock vulgarities—did these not recall the raffish klezmer bands, the wandering musicians who played at shtetl weddings?—
David Denby,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Jennifer Coolidge, who originated the role of heiress Tanya McQuoid in Season 1, returned for Season 2, only to die by tripping and hitting her head on a boat and drowning.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Standout episodes see the besties trip out with Anderson .Paak at Afropunk and shine a light on trans joy with Peppermint.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
However, that fight fell apart in early March, when a hand injury forced Whyte from the card.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
-
After an electrical malfunction, Neo had fallen over backward — fainting dead away.—
Cade Metz,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Confidently rolling toward the Ukrainian 47th Mechanized Brigades in a long column of vehicles flying the red flag of the defunct Soviet Union, the Russian marines blundered into a preplanned kill zone.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Particularly the government's blundering attempts to deal with these new visitors.—
Grace Dean,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The panel did not stray from their earlier guesses for him, throwing out familiar names like Dave Matthews, Daryl Hall, and Pat Monahan of Train once more.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Kering Eyewear was a pioneer in changing the business model for luxury groups with regard to the eyewear category, straying from the well-trodden licensing business model.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Err.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/err. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share