Bad / Mistake

verb

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flunk - To fail to reach the required standard in an examination, test, or course of study

Ron hid his school test from his mother because he didn't want her to know he had flunked it.

noun

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snafu - A confused or chaotic state; a mess

A lack of funding led to the snafu of an incomplete bridge being built across the river.

noun

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boondoggle - Work or activity that is wasteful or pointless but gives the appearance of having value

When the funds dried up before the bridge could be finished, it turned into an expensive boondoggle that couldn't transport anybody.

verb

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fizzle - To finish in a way that is disappointing

At the start of his race for mayor it looked like Fred was going to win, but his many verbal mistakes caused his candidacy to just fizzle out.

noun

See verb

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slip - A small mistake or accident, often due to carelessness.

After he commented about her weight, he apologized for the slip of the tongue that he wished he hadn't said,

noun

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fiasco - A thing that is a complete failure, especially in a ludicrous or humiliating way

In the 1980s, Coca-Cola released New Coke, which ended up being one of the costliest business fiascos ever.

noun

See verb

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fumble - An act of using the hands clumsily while doing or handling something

Owen made a major fumble on his date when he knocked over his glass of wine.

verb

See noun

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flop - To fail

Sam put his product on Amazon, but when no one bought it, he saw that after all his effort and investment that it was going to flop.

noun

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reckoning - A time when someone's actions will be judged to be right or wrong.

He broke and stole many things when he was drunk, and now his day of reckoning would happen in front of a judge.

verb

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bungle - To carry out a task clumsily or incompetently, leading to failure or an unsatisfactory outcome

The painter bungled his job when he misspelled the word on the road sign.

noun

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misconception - A wrong and often widespread assumption based on faulty thinking or lack of information.

There’s a common misconception that bats are blind.

verb

See noun

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stumble - Trip or momentarily lose one's balance; almost fall

Danny ran too fast and stumbled, spilling his coffee on the floor.