blunder

A serious or embarrassing mistake, often caused by carelessness.

• I made a blunder on the form.
• His diplomatic blunder upset several countries.
• How can we avoid these costly blunders?

Similar words: mistake, error, gaffe

Common phrases: make a blunder, costly blunder, major blunder

To make a serious or careless mistake.

• I blundered and sent the wrong file.
• The government blundered badly during the negotiations.
• Did we blunder in trusting him?

How to use it: blunder in doing something (They blundered in choosing an unreliable supplier.)

Similar words: make a mistake, err, mess up

Common phrases: blunder badly, blunder in judgment, blunder in something

To lose a chess piece by making a very bad move.

• I blundered my queen in ten moves.
• Be careful not to blunder that rook.
• She blundered a knight and resigned soon afterward.

Similar words: give away, lose carelessly

Common phrases: blunder a rook, blunder a queen, blunder a piece

To make a bad chess move that allows an unwanted result, such as a draw or checkmate.

• She blundered a draw from a winning position.
• He blundered into mate after moving his king.
• Can you spot how White could blunder into stalemate?

How to use it: blunder into something (He blundered into checkmate while chasing a pawn.)

Common phrases: blunder a draw, blunder into mate, blunder into stalemate