off-target
Wide of mark
Off-target describes something that misses its intended mark.
A missile flies off-target when it strays from its trajectory.
In medicine and genetics, off-target effects are unintended consequences—a drug affecting cells it wasn't designed to reach, or gene editing altering the wrong DNA sequence.
Figuratively, criticism or predictions can be off-target when they miss the point: His analysis was completely off-target.
Wrong action or decision
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- miscalculationError in estimation
- misstepError in action or judgment
- oversightSupervision or inadvertent omission
misjudgment · miscue · inaccurate · erroneous · imprecise · flawed · incorrect · misaligned
Failure to discharge
- wideOf great breadth
- astrayOff the right path
- groupingArrangement by shared traits
- zeroingCalibrating to baseline
windage · elevation · correction · marksmanship · trajectory · calibration · sighting · ballistics
Barely connected to main point
- unrelatedHaving no link
- digressionVeering off topic
- extraneousNot pertinent or essential
- peripheralExternal computer add-on
immaterial · nonessential · disconnected · unfocused · misdirected · sidetracked · derailed · wandering
Not clearly defined
- unintendedNot done on purpose
- side-effectUnintended secondary outcome
- adverseHarmful or opposed
- toxicityCapacity to cause harm
collateral · resistance · ineffective · complication · spillover · broad-spectrum · systemic · indiscriminate
Shooting with bows
- dartsThrown pointed missiles
- golfClub-and-ball course sport
- curlingForming curved shapes
- bowlingPin-toppling pastime
billiards · skeet · shotput · javelin · discus · biathlon · trapshooting · putt
Deceptive mock attack
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- decoyFalse target for misdirection
- diversionRedirection of attention
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
bluff · ruse · smokescreen · sleight · subterfuge · ploy · stratagem · dummy
mistake
Wrong action or decision
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- miscalculationError in estimation
- misstepError in action or judgment
oversight · misjudgment · miscue · inaccurate · erroneous · imprecise · flawed · incorrect · misaligned · skewed
misfire
Failure to discharge
zeroing · windage · elevation · correction · marksmanship · trajectory · calibration · sighting · ballistics · stray
tangential
Barely connected to main point
- unrelatedHaving no link
- digressionVeering off topic
- extraneousNot pertinent or essential
peripheral · immaterial · nonessential · disconnected · unfocused · misdirected · sidetracked · derailed · wandering · straying
non-specific
Not clearly defined
- unintendedNot done on purpose
- side-effectUnintended secondary outcome
- adverseHarmful or opposed
toxicity · collateral · resistance · ineffective · complication · spillover · broad-spectrum · systemic · indiscriminate
archery
Shooting with bows
bowling · billiards · skeet · shotput · javelin · discus · biathlon · trapshooting · putt · slice
feint
Deceptive mock attack
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- decoyFalse target for misdirection
- diversionRedirection of attention
distraction · bluff · ruse · smokescreen · sleight · subterfuge · ploy · stratagem · dummy
off, target, targets, targeted, targeting, targetable, untargeted