misstepping
Losing your footing
Misstepping is taking a wrong step—literally losing one's footing, or figuratively making an error in judgment or conduct.
The literal sense appears in descriptions of physical movement: She misstepped on the wet pavement.
The figurative sense dominates in discussions of social or professional blunders: The company kept misstepping in its response to the crisis.
Lose footing momentarily
- tripPlanned travel somewhere
- fallDescend under gravity
- tumbleUncontrolled rolling descent
- slipMinor error or misstep
skid · slide · falter · wobble · lurch · stagger · unsteady · totter
Clumsy social error
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- indiscretionUnwise act or remark
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
- breachBreaking of agreement
tactlessness · gaucherie · solecism · offense · taboo · indelicacy · inappropriateness · etiquette
Wrong action or decision
- errorFault in communication
- bungleFail through clumsiness
- botchSpoil through incompetence
- fumbleHandle with clumsy fingers
gaffe · goof · flub · blooper · snafu · miscalculate · misjudge · oversight
Fearful uncertainty
- warinessCautious distrust
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- vigilanceState of keen awareness
- prudenceCareful, wise judgment
circumspection · carefulness · heedfulness · mindfulness · attentiveness · watchfulness · deliberation · precaution
stumble
Lose footing momentarily
slip · skid · slide · falter · wobble · lurch · stagger · unsteady · totter · careen
gaffe
Clumsy social error
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- indiscretionUnwise act or remark
- improprietyUnsuitable or inappropriate behavior
breach · tactlessness · gaucherie · solecism · offense · taboo · indelicacy · inappropriateness · etiquette · awkwardness
mistake
Wrong action or decision
fumble · gaffe · goof · flub · blooper · snafu · miscalculate · misjudge · oversight · mishap
trepidation
Fearful uncertainty
- warinessCautious distrust
- hesitationDelay from uncertainty
- vigilanceState of keen awareness
prudence · circumspection · carefulness · heedfulness · mindfulness · attentiveness · watchfulness · deliberation · precaution · second-guessing
missteppingsure-footed
Steady and balanced
surefooted · planting one's feet · nimble-footed · balancing · light-footed
step, steps, footstep, sidestep, stepping, doorstep, misstep, stepped, missteps