Erring — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ˈer/

Meaning & Definition of Erring

Erring (verb)

  1. to make a mistake
  2. to violate an accepted standard of conduct
  3. stray

Erring (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in errant, fallen

    similar: errant, fallen, unprincipled, unscrupulous, execrable, lousy, miserable, wretched, improper, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, naughty, unbecoming, unseemly, vulgar, disallowed, dishonest, dishonorable, banned, barred, condemned, discouraged, forbidden, illegal, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, unauthorized, unclean, cursed, cussed, defiling, noxious, pernicious, pestilential, ugly, ungodly, unwholesome, corrupt, debased, debauched, degenerate, depraved, dissolute, libertine, loose, low-minded, perverted, reprobate, scrofulous, sick, unhealthy, blamable, blameworthy, censurable, objectionable, obscene, offensive, reprehensible, atrocious, cruel, infamous, nasty
    opposite: decent, ethical, good, honest, honorable, just, moral, right, righteous, sublime, upright, virtuous, elevated, high, high-minded, law-abiding, legitimate, lofty, noble, principled, reputable, scrupulous, allowed, authorized, legal, licensed, permissible, permitted, approved, endorsed, sanctioned, abetted, encouraged, promoted, supported, clean, correct, decorous, exemplary, proper, seemly, blameless, commendable, creditable, guiltless, chaste, immaculate, incorruptible, innocent, inoffensive, irreproachable, lily-white, perfect, pure, spotless, squeaky-clean, uncorrupted, unerring, unfallen, unobjectionable, venerable, white, wholesome, esteemed, respected, upstanding, worthy

Erring (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make a mistake

    "we badly erred when we calculated the driving distance"

    similar: blundering, boobing (British), flubbing, fluffing, fouling up, fumbling, goofing (up), lousing up, messing (up), screwing up, slipping up, stumbling, tripping, dropping the ball, laying an egg
    related: nodding, bobbling, botching, bungling, butchering, foozling, mangling, mishandling, muffing, murdering, miscalculating, misconceiving, miscounting, miscuing, misdeeming, misgauging, misjudging, mistaking, misconstruing, misinterpreting, misunderstanding

  2. to commit an offense

    "when we err, we must be willing to accept the consequences"

    similar: falling, offending, sinning, straying, transgressing, trespassing, wandering, breaking the law, falling from grace
    related: breaching, breaking, infringing, violating, backsliding, lapsing, messing up
    near: forgiving, justifying, pardoning, regretting, repenting, ruing

Related Entry: Err (verb)

Err is a different word from Erring. The synonyms below are for err, not for erring.

  1. to make a mistake

    "we badly erred when we calculated the driving distance"

    similar: blunder, boob (British), flub, fluff, foul up, fumble, goof (up), louse up, mess (up), screw up, slip up, stumble, trip, drop the ball, lay an egg
    related: nod, bobble, botch, bungle, butcher, foozle, mangle, mishandle, muff, murder, miscalculate, misconceive, miscount, miscue, misdeem, misgauge, misjudge, mistake, misconstrue, misinterpret, misunderstand

  2. to commit an offense

    "when we err, we must be willing to accept the consequences"

    similar: fall, offend, sin, stray, transgress, trespass, wander, break the law, fall from grace
    related: breach, break, infringe, violate, backslide, lapse, mess up
    near: forgive, justify, pardon, regret, repent, rue

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Erring

The most common words with a similar meaning to Erring:

British: boobing
errant, fallen, unprincipled, unscrupulous, execrable, lousy, miserable, wretched, improper, incorrect, indecent, indecorous, naughty, unbecoming, unseemly, vulgar, disallowed, dishonest, dishonorable, banned, barred, condemned, discouraged, forbidden, illegal, interdicted, outlawed, prohibited, proscribed, unauthorized, unclean, cursed, cussed, defiling, noxious, pernicious, pestilential, ugly, ungodly, unwholesome

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Erring

Words with the opposite meaning of Erring:

decent, ethical, good, honest, honorable, just, moral, right, righteous, sublime, upright, virtuous, elevated, high, high-minded, law-abiding, legitimate, lofty, noble, principled, reputable, scrupulous, allowed, authorized, legal, licensed, permissible, permitted, approved, endorsed

Related Words for Erring

nodding, bobbling, botching, bungling, butchering, foozling, mangling, mishandling, muffing, murdering, miscalculating, misconceiving, miscounting, miscuing, misdeeming, misgauging, misjudging, mistaking, misconstruing, misinterpreting, misunderstanding, breaching, breaking, infringing, violating, backsliding, lapsing, messing up

Near Antonyms of Erring

forgiving, justifying, pardoning, regretting, repenting, ruing

Word Forms of Erring

Inflections: erred, errs

Origin & Etymology of Erring

Middle English erren "to wander, roam, deviate from righteousness or truth, make a mistake," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French errer "to hold mistaken beliefs, make a mistake," going back to Latin errāre "to wander, roam, drift, be in doubt or uncertainty, act in error, be mistaken," going back to pre-Latin *ers-āje-, going back to Indo-European *h1ers-ah2i̯e/o- (whence also Armenian eṙam "am restless, seethe"), presumably denominal from *h1ers-o- or *h1ers-ah2; also from this base a series of derivatives in Germanic, as Old English ierre, eorre "gone astray, perverted, enraged," iersian "to be angry, rage," Old Saxon irre "misguided, angry," irron "to roam about," Old High German irri "wandering, confused,' irren "to lead astray," Gothic airzeis "deceived, in error," airzjan "to mislead"

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Erring

What does "Erring" mean?

"Erring" means to make a mistake. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to make a mistake. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Erring"?

Other words for "Erring" include errant, fallen, unprincipled, unscrupulous, execrable, lousy, miserable and wretched. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Erring" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Erring"?

There are 117 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Erring". Common alternatives include errant, fallen, unprincipled, unscrupulous, execrable, lousy, miserable, wretched, improper and incorrect.

What is the opposite of "Erring"?

Antonyms of "Erring" include decent, ethical, good, honest, honorable, just, moral and right. Near antonyms include forgiving, justifying, pardoning and regretting.

How do you use "Erring" in a sentence?

Examples of "Erring" in a sentence: "we badly erred when we calculated the driving distance"; "when we err, we must be willing to accept the consequences".

Is "Erring" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Erring" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Erring"?

"Erring" is pronounced /ˈer/.

What is the origin of the word "Erring"?

"Erring" comes from Middle English erren "to wander, roam, deviate from righteousness or truth, make a mistake," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French errer "to hold mistaken beliefs, make a mistake," going back to Latin errāre "to wander, roam, drift, be in doubt or uncertainty, act in error, be mistaken," going back to pre-Latin *ers-āje-, going back to Indo-European *h1ers-ah2i̯e/o- (whence also Armenian eṙam "am restless, seethe"), presumably denominal from *h1ers-o- or *h1ers-ah2; also from this base a series of derivatives in Germanic, as Old English ierre, eorre "gone astray, perverted, enraged," iersian "to be angry, rage," Old Saxon irre "misguided, angry," irron "to roam about," Old High German irri "wandering, confused,' irren "to lead astray," Gothic airzeis "deceived, in error," airzjan "to mislead". First known use: 14th century.