misspeaks
Says it wrong
Misspeaks is the third-person singular of misspeak—to say something incorrectly or unintentionally.
The word often appears when someone says something controversial then claims it wasn't what they meant: The senator misspeaks regularly under pressure.
Politicians frequently insist they "misspoke" rather than admit they lied or were wrong.
Formal withdrawal of statement
- correctionFixing of mistakes
- clarificationMaking meaning plain
- apologyStatement acknowledging wrongdoing
- amendmentChange to official text
embarrassment · humiliation · mortification · faux pas · damage control · walkback · backpedal · disclaimer
Clumsy social error
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- slipMinor error or misstep
- flubClumsy error
- mispronunciationIncorrect vocal rendering
misstatement · slip-up · blooper · stumble · tongue-twister · malapropism · spoonerism · botch
Inaccurate citation
- distortionTwisting from original state
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- deflectionChange in trajectory
evasion · doublespeak · euphemism · obfuscation · dog whistle · plausible deniability · backtrack · hedge
retraction
Formal withdrawal of statement
- correctionFixing of mistakes
- clarificationMaking meaning plain
- apologyStatement acknowledging wrongdoing
amendment · embarrassment · humiliation · mortification · faux pas · damage control · walkback · backpedal · disclaimer · erratum
gaffe
Clumsy social error
mispronunciation · misstatement · slip-up · blooper · stumble · tongue-twister · malapropism · spoonerism · botch · bungle
misquote
Inaccurate citation
- distortionTwisting from original state
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- spinRapid rotation around axis
deflection · evasion · doublespeak · euphemism · obfuscation · dog whistle · plausible deniability · backtrack · hedge · qualifier
misspeakslies
Deliberate untruths
deceives · fabricates · dissembles · prevaricates · cons