misspeak
Say it wrong
To misspeak is to express oneself imperfectly or inaccurately—saying something other than what you meant.
Politicians who misspeak often claim their words were taken out of context: I misspoke when I said we had no plans to raise taxes.
The word can serve as a face-saving way to walk back a statement without fully admitting error.
Clumsy error
- stumbleLose footing momentarily
- garbleDistort into confusion
- malapropismSound-alike word confusion
- slipupUnintentional minor error
blunder · botch · bungle · fumble · err · inaccuracy · oversight · miscommunication
Clumsy social error
- faux pasSocial misstep or indiscretion
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- chagrinDistress from wounded pride
awkwardness · red-faced · flustered · cringe · regret · apology · humiliation · discomfort
Clumsy social error
- soundbiteBrief broadcast excerpt
- press conferenceOrganized media Q&A
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- damage controlLimiting further harm
walkback · spokesperson · campaign · debate · interview · hot mic · leaked · controversy
Speak suddenly, thoughtlessly
- slipMinor error or misstep
- accidentalOccurring by chance
- inadvertentDone without intention
- thoughtlessShowing no consideration
careless · offhand · hasty · impulsive · spontaneous · unguarded · unscripted · off-the-cuff
Inaccurate citation
- misreportRelay information inaccurately
- distortTwist from original form
- misconstrueUnderstand incorrectly
- mischaracterizePortray falsely or inaccurately
misrepresent · misinform · mislead · inaccuracy · exaggerate · overstate · understate · twist
flub
Clumsy error
- stumbleLose footing momentarily
- garbleDistort into confusion
- malapropismSound-alike word confusion
slipup · blunder · botch · bungle · fumble · err · inaccuracy · oversight · miscommunication · misquote
gaffe
Clumsy social error
- faux pasSocial misstep or indiscretion
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
chagrin · awkwardness · red-faced · flustered · cringe · regret · apology · humiliation · discomfort · shame
gaffe
Clumsy social error
- soundbiteBrief broadcast excerpt
- press conferenceOrganized media Q&A
- spinRapid rotation around axis
damage control · walkback · spokesperson · campaign · debate · interview · hot mic · leaked · controversy · PR
blurt
Speak suddenly, thoughtlessly
- slipMinor error or misstep
- accidentalOccurring by chance
- inadvertentDone without intention
thoughtless · careless · offhand · hasty · impulsive · spontaneous · unguarded · unscripted · off-the-cuff · unplanned
misquote
Inaccurate citation
- misreportRelay information inaccurately
- distortTwist from original form
- misconstrueUnderstand incorrectly
mischaracterize · misrepresent · misinform · mislead · inaccuracy · exaggerate · overstate · understate · twist · spin
apologize
Acknowledge a fault
recant · withdraw · walk back · backtrack · backpedal · amend · revise · rephrase · restate · acknowledge
- everyday mistakesslip, typos, trip, spelling errors, fall
- speech errorsslip of the tongue, mispronunciation, malapropism, malapropisms, spoonerism
- miscommunicationmix-up, mixed signals, confusion, mixed messages, crossed wires
- mistakesmistake, mistakes, slip, error, errors
- misunderstandingmisunderstand, misinterpret, miscommunication, misconception, misconstrue
- mix-upsmix-up, mistake, error, confusion, mix
misspeaklie
Deliberate falsehood
deceive · prevaricate · dissemble · fabricate · bear false witness