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Showing results for miscue. Search instead for miscuing.
Synonyms

miscue

1 American  
[mis-kyoo] / mɪsˈkju /

noun

  1. Sports. a failure to execute a play, stroke, or maneuver properly; an error.

  2. Informal. a mistake.

  3. Informal. to make a mistake.

  4. Theater. to fail to answer one's cue or to answer another's cue.


verb (used with object)

miscued, miscuing
  1. to give the wrong cue to.

miscue 2 American  
[mis-kyoo] / mɪsˈkju /

noun

  1. a stroke in which the cue fails to make solid contact with the cue ball.


verb (used without object)

miscued, miscuing
  1. to make a miscue.

miscue British  
/ ˌmɪsˈkjuː /

noun

  1. billiards a faulty stroke in which the cue tip slips off the cue ball or misses it altogether

  2. informal a blunder or mistake

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (intr) billiards to make a miscue

  2. (intr) theatre to fail to answer one's own cue or answer the cue of another

  3. radio to start (a record or tape) at the wrong point

  4. informal (intr) to blunder

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of miscue1

First recorded in 1880–85; mis- 1 + cue 1

Origin of miscue2

First recorded in 1870–75; mis- 1 + cue 2

Vocabulary lists containing miscue

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.

See Examples For:

That unfortunate miscue opened the door for the Royals to win the state title.

From Los Angeles Times May 17, 2026

A successful meeting, and international diplomacy, can hinge on the slightest missed protocol, an unexpected miscue or even a bit of saliva left on a fork.

From The Wall Street Journal Apr. 27, 2026

He had Lions captain Tom Haines miscue to mid-on with the fifth ball he bowled then Bethell, who spent 15 balls on nought, pulled to square leg.

From BBC Nov. 13, 2025

Alick Athanaze, who made 21, was the only wicket to fall when he attempted to loft a James Neesham delivery over mid-on only to miscue and be caught by Daryl Mitchell running back.

From Barron's Nov. 10, 2025

The slightest miscue by any one of them would mean catching a crab, and catastrophe.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

Firstly, Maradona opened the scoring in the second half with his notorious 'hand of God' goal by punching a miscued back pass with his hand past Peter Shilton and into the net.

From BBC Jul. 5, 2026

Shimron Hetmyer was dropped at mid-on by Corbin Bosch off the next delivery, but lasted only two more when he miscued to midwicket where Maharaj snapped up the catch.

From Barron's Feb. 26, 2026

Smith had 60 when he miscued Mitchell Starc.

From BBC Dec. 20, 2025

Her innings ended off the penultimate ball, when she miscued Udeshika Prabodhani to long-on, but the damage had long been done.

From Barron's Oct. 11, 2025

But I miscued, and he got going again.

From Here and Hereafter by Pain, Barry

They took three wickets in the powerplay, including Archer having the dangerous George Munsey and number three Brandon McMullen miscuing pulls in a lively opening spell of three overs, but Berrington countered impressively.

From BBC Feb. 14, 2026

But Crawley's dismissal, miscuing to point when advancing down the pitch to Axar Patel, was the signal for England to lose six wickets for 68 runs.

From BBC Feb. 3, 2024

Declan Rice, possibly West Ham’s best player this season, was at fault for the equalizer after miscuing his attempted headed clearance from a cross into the center of the area.

From Seattle Times Feb. 19, 2022

Vilas c Moeen b Broad 26, South Africa 225-7 Vilas goes, holing out to Moeen on the backward square leg boundary after miscuing a shorter ball.

From The Guardian Jan. 14, 2016

Vilas goes, holing out to Moeen on the backward square leg boundary after miscuing a shorter ball.

From The Guardian Jan. 14, 2016

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