misspoke
Said it wrong
Misspoke is the past tense of misspeak—to say something incorrectly or unintentionally.
Politicians often claim they misspoke when caught in contradictions: I misspoke when I said we had no contact with them.
The word can be a genuine acknowledgment of error or a convenient way to walk back statements without admitting to lying.
Clumsy social error
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- flubClumsy error
- blooperEmbarrassing recorded mistake
- faux pasSocial misstep or indiscretion
stumble · lapse · misstep · fumble · clanger · slip-up · bungle · tongue-twister
Incorrect assertion of fact
- distortionTwisting from original state
- misquoteInaccurate citation
- inaccuracyLack of precision
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
exaggeration · mischaracterization · untruth · misleading · garble · misreport · misattribute · fabrication
Reverse one's position
- recantFormally withdraw a statement
- walk backReverse a prior position
- correctFree from error
- clarifyMake something understandable
apologize · retract · disavow · withdraw · take back · revise · amend · restate
Failed exchange of meaning
- confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
- misinterpretationIncorrect understanding of meaning
- unclearNot easily understood
inarticulate · garbled · muddled · crossed wires · lost in translation · mixed signals · vague · imprecise
gaffe
Clumsy social error
faux pas · stumble · lapse · misstep · fumble · clanger · slip-up · bungle · tongue-twister · spoonerism
misstatement
Incorrect assertion of fact
- distortionTwisting from original state
- misquoteInaccurate citation
- inaccuracyLack of precision
falsehood · exaggeration · mischaracterization · untruth · misleading · garble · misreport · misattribute · fabrication · spin
backtrack
Reverse one's position
clarify · apologize · retract · disavow · withdraw · take back · revise · amend · restate · rephrase
miscommunication
Failed exchange of meaning
- confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
- misinterpretationIncorrect understanding of meaning
unclear · inarticulate · garbled · muddled · crossed wires · lost in translation · mixed signals · vague · imprecise · mishear
- Doublespeakcollateral damage, enhanced interrogation, friendly fire, regime change, neutralize
- miscommunicationmix-up, mixed signals, confusion, mixed messages, crossed wires
misspokegot it right
misspokelied
Told a falsehood
deceived · prevaricated · dissembled · fabricated · perjured
- I misspokeAdmitted speaking error