misplaying

Botching the execution

Misplaying is the act of playing something incorrectly or badly, whether in sports, games, or music.

In card games, misplaying a hand means making a tactical error; in baseball, misplaying a ball means fumbling or misjudging it.

He cost his team the game by misplaying an easy grounder.

The term implies a mistake in execution rather than a lack of skill—even experts are capable of misplaying.

blunder

fumble

Handle with clumsy fingers

flubClumsy error
botchSpoil through incompetence
bungleFail through clumsiness

goof · gaffe · slip · misstep · blooper · howler · clanger · fluff · miscue · stumble

performance

flub

Clumsy error

fumbleHandle with clumsy fingers
stumbleLose footing momentarily
tripPlanned travel somewhere

gaffe · blooper · miscue · slip · botch · bungle · goof · lapse · falter · choke

strategy

tactical error

blunderFoolish, costly mistake
miscalculationError in estimation
mismanageHandle duties poorly

backfire · misguided · ill-conceived · counterproductive · misexecution · misdirected · overcommit · telegraphed · predictable · exploited

misjudgment

misread

Interpret text incorrectly

miscalculateCompute incorrectly
mistimeAct at wrong moment
misstepError in action or judgment

misestimate · misinterpret · miscue · underestimate · overestimate · overplay · underplay · miscount · misgauge · wrong call

Opposites

execution quality

misplayingnailing

Securing with driven fasteners

acing · succeeding · mastering · pulling off · getting it right

skill demonstration

misplayingmastering

Attaining full command

excelling · outplaying

Family

play, player, playful, playing, played, players, replay, playfulness, interplay

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G