false step

NOUN

careless act

Synonyms

WEAK

blunder fall flop misstep slip stumble trip tumble

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.

It’s the poignant devastation of knowing one false step or bad decision could reshape your life that knocks us over.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2025

Don’t make a false step of your own in this week’s Slate News Quiz.

From Slate • Feb. 24, 2023

Not everything works in the staging: When the action is this exposed, any false step is magnified.

From New York Times • Nov. 21, 2021

Then, unfortunately, a false step appeared to end his night.

From Washington Post • May 8, 2018

If we took one false step, we would fall into black, smelly water.

From "When I Was Puerto Rican" by Esmeralda Santiago