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Dictionary.com
Definitions

drop the ball

VERB
blunder
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bumble bungle err flounder
STRONG
blow bobble botch confuse flub fumble misjudge stumble
WEAK
ball up foul up gum up louse up mess up screw up slip up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
do well succeed
WEAK
correct fix restore
VERB
bungle
Synonyms
STRONGEST
botch err flub fudge gum up miscalculate mishandle mismanage muff screw up
STRONG
boggle butcher fumble mar ruin spoil
WEAK
ball up foul up goof up louse up make a mess of mess up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
succeed
STRONG
grow help
WEAK
do well fix manage
VERB
err
Synonyms
STRONGEST
misbehave miscalculate stray stumble
STRONG
blow blunder bollix deviate fall flub goof lapse misapprehend misjudge muff offend sin snafu transgress trespass wander
WEAK
be in error be inaccurate be incorrect be mistaken foul up go astray go wrong louse up make a mess of mess up screw up slip up snarl up
Antonyms
STRONG
behave obey stay
WEAK
correct
VERB
falter
Synonyms
STRONGEST
flounder hesitate reel waver wobble
STRONG
bobble break fluctuate fluff halt lurch quaver rock roll scruple shake stagger stammer teeter topple totter tremble vacillate
WEAK
be undecided hem and haw speak haltingly stub toe trip up whiffle
Antonyms
STRONG
calm hold remain stabilize stay steady
WEAK
continue endure maintain persist
VERB
flounder
Synonyms
STRONGEST
flop stumble wallow
STRONG
blunder bobble flummox fumble grope labor lurch muddle plunge pratfall snafu strive thrash toil toss travail tumble
WEAK
cast about come apart at the seams fall down foul up go at backwards go to pieces make a mess of miss one's cue screw up slip up stub one's toe trip up work at
Antonyms
STRONG
idle laze
WEAK
do well succeed
VERB
miscalculate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
err misconstrue misinterpret misjudge misread misunderstand overestimate overrate overvalue underestimate undervalue
STRONG
blow blunder discount disregard miscount overlook stumble underrate
WEAK
get signals crossed get wrong go wrong mess up misreckon miss by a mile mix up slip up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
get perceive understand
STRONG
attend pay attention regard respect
WEAK
do correctly figure correctly succeed
VERB
misestimate
Synonyms
STRONG
blow blunder discount disregard err misconstrue miscount misinterpret misjudge misread misunderstand overestimate overlook overrate overvalue stumble underestimate underrate undervalue
WEAK
get signals crossed get wrong go wrong mess up misreckon miss by a mile mix up slip up
Antonyms
STRONG
attend correct exaggerate get overrate pay attention perceive regard respect understand
VERB
misjudge
Synonyms
STRONGEST
miscalculate misconstrue misunderstand overestimate overrate underestimate
STRONG
dogmatize err misapprehend misconceive mistake prejudge presume presuppose stumble suppose underrate
WEAK
bark up wrong tree be misled be overcritical be partial be unfair be wrong come to hasty conclusion miscomprehend misconjecture misdeem misreckon miss by a mile misthink put foot in
Antonyms
STRONGEST
get perceive understand
STRONG
comprehend disbelieve
WEAK
figure judge well
VERB
misreckon
Synonyms
WEAK
blow blunder discount disregard err get signals crossed get wrong go wrong mess up misconstrue miscount misestimate misinterpret misjudge misread miss by a mile misunderstand mix up overestimate overlook overrate overvalue slip up stumble underestimate underrate undervalue
VERB
miss
Synonyms
STRONG
blow blunder botch disregard drop err flub forget fumble ignore juggle lose miscarry misfire mislay misplace muff neglect omit overlook overshoot skip slight slip trip undershoot
WEAK
be late for fall flat on face fall short let go let slip pass over pass up trip up
Antonyms
STRONG
accomplish achieve attend correct do do well face find fix heed keep look at meet note notice pay attention regard remember respect succeed
VERB
muff
Synonyms
STRONGEST
botch flub fumble mishandle
STRONG
blunder boggle choke err miscalculate mismanage slip
WEAK
foul up goof up make a mess of mess up screw up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
do well
STRONG
correct
VERB
slip
Synonyms
STRONGEST
stumble
STRONG
blunder fail flub fluff goof miscalculate misjudge miss mistake muff trip
WEAK
go wrong make a mistake put foot in mouth slip up
Antonyms
STRONG
correct fix
WEAK
perfect

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Did the Dodgers drop the ball by not providing Roman with authentication?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2024

“The football gods laugh at us and drop the ball in at the 1-inch line for us to go have to win the game,” coach Michael Locksley said.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 18, 2023

The sort of Tests where if you drop the ball like England did, you are soon picking up tickets home.

From BBC • Sep. 18, 2023

"Governments cannot drop the ball," Van Kerkhove said, adding that the coronavirus continues to circulate, evolve, infect and kill people.

From Reuters • Aug. 24, 2023

They put us up at this fancy hotel near Times Square, where they drop the ball on New Year’s Eve.

From "The Million Dollar Shot" by Dan Gutman