Top 35 Slang For Missed – Meaning & Usage

Ever missed an opportunity and wished there was a cool slang term to describe that feeling? Look no further! We’ve put together a list of the trendiest slang words for “missed” that will have you nodding in agreement and maybe even laughing at how spot-on they are. Whether you’ve missed a chance to hang out with friends or a deadline at work, our list has got you covered with the perfect words to express that missed moment. So, don’t miss out on this fun and enlightening read!

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1. Whiffed

When someone “whiffs” on something, it means they missed an opportunity or failed to accomplish a task successfully.

For example, in a baseball game, a batter might swing and “whiff” at a pitch, resulting in a strikeout.
Someone might say, “I really whiffed on that job interview. I completely blanked on the questions.”
A person discussing a missed shot in basketball might say, “He whiffed on that layup. It should have been an easy basket.”

2. Blew it

To “blow it” means to make an error or fail at something.

For instance, if someone fails to seize an opportunity, they might say, “I really blew it.”
A person recounting a missed chance might say, “I had the winning lottery ticket in my hand, but I blew it by losing it.”
In a sports context, a commentator might say, “The team had a chance to score, but they blew it with a fumble.”

3. Botched

When something is “botched,” it means it was done poorly or incorrectly, resulting in a failure.

For example, a person might say, “I botched the presentation. I forgot my lines and stumbled through it.”
Someone recounting a cooking disaster might say, “I completely botched the recipe. It was inedible.”
In a medical context, a doctor might say, “The surgeon botched the operation, leading to complications for the patient.”

4. Dropped the ball

To “drop the ball” means to fail to do something or miss an opportunity, often due to negligence or a lack of attention.

For instance, if someone forgets to complete a task, they might say, “I dropped the ball on that one.”
A person recounting a missed chance might say, “I had the opportunity to invest in that company, but I dropped the ball and missed out.”
In a sports context, a commentator might say, “The goalkeeper dropped the ball, resulting in a goal for the opposing team.”

5. Flubbed

To “flub” something means to make a mistake or error, often due to clumsiness or lack of skill.

For example, a person might say, “I flubbed my lines during the play. It was embarrassing.”
Someone recounting a missed shot in golf might say, “I flubbed the chip shot and ended up in the sand trap.”
In a cooking context, a person might say, “I flubbed the recipe and accidentally added too much salt.”

6. Squandered

This term refers to missing an opportunity or not making the most of something. It implies that something valuable was lost or not used effectively.

For example, “He squandered his chance to make a good impression during the job interview.”
A sports commentator might say, “The team squandered their lead in the final minutes of the game.”
In a discussion about money management, someone might say, “Don’t squander your savings on unnecessary purchases.”

7. Bungled

To bungle means to mess up or mishandle a task or situation. It implies a mistake or failure due to incompetence or carelessness.

For instance, “She bungled the presentation by forgetting her main points.”
A news headline might read, “Government bungles vaccine distribution.”
In a conversation about cooking, someone might say, “I bungled the recipe and ended up with a burnt mess.”

8. Fumbled

To fumble means to mishandle or fail to execute a task or action. It is often used in sports to describe a player’s mistake in catching or handling the ball.

For example, “The quarterback fumbled the ball, resulting in a turnover.”
A person recounting a clumsy moment might say, “I fumbled my keys and they fell into the sewer grate.”
In a discussion about job performance, someone might say, “He fumbled the opportunity to impress the boss with his presentation skills.”

9. Mishandled

To mishandle something means to handle or deal with it improperly or in a careless manner. It suggests a failure to handle a situation or task effectively.

For instance, “The company mishandled the customer complaint, leading to a loss of business.”
A person discussing a failed project might say, “The team mishandled the timeline and missed crucial deadlines.”
In a conversation about parenting, someone might say, “She mishandled the discipline situation and only made things worse.”

10. Neglected

To neglect means to fail to give proper attention or care to something or someone. It implies a lack of action or neglecting responsibilities.

For example, “He neglected to pay his bills, resulting in late fees.”
A person discussing home maintenance might say, “They neglected to fix the leaky roof, causing extensive water damage.”
In a conversation about relationships, someone might say, “She neglected her partner’s emotional needs, leading to resentment.”

11. Overshot

This term refers to going beyond the intended target or missing the mark by a significant margin.

For instance, in a game of darts, someone might say, “Oops, I overshot the bullseye.”
In a conversation about basketball, a fan might comment, “He overshot the basket and the ball went out of bounds.”
A person discussing a failed business venture might say, “We overshot our budget and couldn’t recover.”

12. Slighted

To feel slighted means to feel ignored, disregarded, or disrespected by someone.

For example, in a social gathering, someone might say, “I felt slighted when she didn’t acknowledge my presence.”
In a discussion about workplace dynamics, a person might share, “I always feel slighted when my ideas are dismissed without consideration.”
A person discussing relationships might say, “I felt slighted when my partner didn’t invite me to their family gathering.”

13. Misjudged

This term refers to making an incorrect assessment or evaluation of a situation or person.

For instance, in a game of poker, someone might say, “I misjudged his hand and ended up losing the game.”
In a discussion about job interviews, a person might share, “I misjudged the company culture and realized it wasn’t a good fit.”
A person discussing a friend’s actions might say, “I misjudged her intentions and ended up being hurt.”

14. Misinterpreted

To misinterpret means to understand or interpret something incorrectly or inaccurately.

For example, in a conversation, someone might say, “I misinterpreted his words and thought he was being sarcastic.”
In a discussion about literature, a person might share, “I misinterpreted the symbolism in the novel and had to re-read it.”
A person discussing a text message might say, “I misinterpreted the tone of her message and thought she was angry.”

15. Misread

To misread means to misunderstand or misinterpret something that is written or displayed.

For instance, in a test, a student might say, “I misread the question and gave the wrong answer.”
In a discussion about road signs, a driver might share, “I misread the speed limit sign and got a ticket.”
A person discussing a map might say, “I misread the directions and ended up getting lost.”

16. Misgauged

This term refers to the act of miscalculating or underestimating something. It implies that someone made an error in their estimation or assessment.

For example, in a sports context, one might say, “The coach misgauged the opponent’s strength and made poor lineup choices.”
In a business setting, a colleague might comment, “We misgauged the market demand and now we’re left with excess inventory.”
A friend might admit, “I misgauged how long it would take me to finish the project and now I’m scrambling to meet the deadline.”

17. Misestimated

This term refers to making an incorrect or inaccurate estimation or prediction. It implies that someone’s estimate or prediction was off the mark.

For instance, in a financial context, one might say, “I misestimated the company’s expenses and now we’re facing a budget shortfall.”
In a weather forecast, a meteorologist might acknowledge, “We misestimated the intensity of the storm and didn’t issue proper warnings.”
A student might confess, “I misestimated the difficulty of the exam and didn’t study enough.”

18. Miscalculated

This term refers to making a mistake or error in a calculation or computation. It implies that someone’s math or reasoning was flawed.

For example, in a math problem, one might say, “I miscalculated the answer and got the wrong result.”
In a financial analysis, an analyst might admit, “I miscalculated the company’s revenue projections and now our forecast is inaccurate.”
A chef might realize, “I miscalculated the cooking time and now the dish is overcooked.”

19. Misapprehended

This term refers to misunderstanding or misinterpreting something. It implies that someone failed to grasp the true meaning or intention.

For instance, in a conversation, one might say, “I misapprehended your comment and thought you were being sarcastic.”
In a legal context, a lawyer might argue, “The prosecution misapprehended the defendant’s actions and is presenting a false narrative.”
A teacher might realize, “I misapprehended the student’s question and gave an incorrect explanation.”

20. Misconstrued

This term refers to interpreting or understanding something incorrectly. It implies that someone has misunderstood the intended meaning or message.

For example, in a text message, one might say, “I think you misconstrued my tone. I was joking, not being serious.”
In a political debate, a candidate might argue, “My opponent is misconstruing my statements to make me appear dishonest.”
A reader might comment, “The author’s message was misconstrued by many readers who missed the underlying themes.”

21. Misheard

This refers to a situation where someone hears something incorrectly or misunderstands what was said. It can be used in various contexts.

For instance, if someone says, “I thought she said ‘apple’ but she actually said ‘ample'”, they might say, “Oops, I misheard her.”
In a conversation about a song lyric, someone might comment, “I always misheard the line as ‘wrapped up like a douche’ instead of ‘revved up like a deuce’.”
A person might confess, “I misheard my friend’s directions and ended up at the wrong place.”

22. Misunderstood

This refers to a situation where someone fails to understand or comprehend something correctly. It can be used in various contexts.

For example, if someone says, “I feel like no one understands me”, they might say, “I often feel misunderstood.”
In a discussion about a complex topic, someone might admit, “I must confess, I misunderstood the concept at first.”
A person might say, “I feel like my intentions are constantly misunderstood by others.”

23. Misconceived

This refers to a situation where someone forms a wrong or inaccurate belief about something or someone. It can be used in various contexts.

For instance, if someone says, “I had a misconceived notion about how easy it would be to start a business”, they might say, “My idea was completely misconceived.”
In a conversation about a stereotype, someone might argue, “It’s important to challenge misconceived ideas about certain cultures.”
A person might reflect, “Looking back, I realize my initial assumptions were completely misconceived.”

24. Misreckoned

This refers to a situation where someone makes an incorrect calculation or estimation. It can be used in various contexts.

For example, if someone says, “I thought I had enough money, but I misreckoned the expenses”, they might say, “I completely misreckoned the cost.”
In a discussion about budgeting, someone might admit, “I often misreckon my monthly expenses.”
A person might say, “I misreckoned the time it would take to complete the project.”

25. Miscounted

This refers to a situation where someone counts or tallies something incorrectly. It can be used in various contexts.

For instance, if someone says, “I miscounted the number of guests and didn’t have enough food”, they might say, “Oops, I miscounted.”
In a conversation about inventory, someone might admit, “I miscounted the number of items in stock.”
A person might say, “I miscounted the laps during the race.”

26. FOMO

This refers to the feeling of anxiety or unease that one might miss out on something exciting or interesting happening. It is commonly used when someone is unable to attend an event or activity and feels left out.

For example, “I couldn’t go to the party last night and now I have a major case of FOMO.”
A person might say, “I always get FOMO when I see my friends’ vacation pictures.”
Another might post on social media, “Everyone is going to the concert tonight, and I’m stuck at home. FOMO is real!”

27. Ghosted

This slang term is used when someone suddenly stops responding to messages or calls and completely disappears from the other person’s life without any explanation.

For instance, “I thought we were getting along well, but then he ghosted me.”
A person might say, “I’ve been ghosted by multiple people on dating apps.”
Another might ask, “Have you ever ghosted someone or been ghosted?”

28. Bailed

This slang term is used when someone cancels previously made plans or leaves a situation suddenly and without providing any reason or explanation.

For example, “I was supposed to meet my friend for lunch, but she bailed at the last minute.”
A person might say, “I bailed on the party because I wasn’t feeling well.”
Another might comment, “He always bails on our group outings. It’s frustrating.”

29. Flaked

This slang term is used when someone agrees to do something or attend an event but then fails to show up or follow through on their commitment without giving a valid reason.

For instance, “He said he would help me move, but he flaked at the last minute.”
A person might say, “I’ve been flaked on so many times by unreliable friends.”
Another might complain, “She always flakes on our plans. I can’t count on her.”

30. Skipped out

This slang term is used when someone intentionally avoids or misses an event, activity, or responsibility without providing any explanation or excuse.

For example, “He skipped out on the meeting and didn’t inform anyone.”
A person might say, “I’m thinking of skipping out on the family gathering this year.”
Another might confess, “I skipped out on my workout today. I just wasn’t feeling motivated.”

31. Let it pass

This phrase means to choose not to take action or respond to something that may have been important or significant.

For example, if someone makes a rude comment, you might decide to just let it pass instead of engaging in an argument.
In a discussion about missed opportunities, someone might say, “I had the chance to invest in that company, but I let it pass.”
A person reflecting on past mistakes might admit, “There were many opportunities for success that I let pass me by.”

32. Passed by

This phrase refers to a situation where someone fails to take advantage of an opportunity or fails to notice something important.

For instance, if a job opportunity is overlooked, someone might say, “I can’t believe I passed by that chance to advance my career.”
In a conversation about missed connections, a person might say, “I think I passed by my soulmate without even realizing it.”
A student discussing missed exam questions might say, “I can’t believe I passed by that easy question and got it wrong.”

33. Failed to capitalize

This phrase means to not take advantage of a situation or opportunity that could have led to success or benefit.

For example, if a business fails to take advantage of a popular trend, someone might say, “They really failed to capitalize on the market demand.”
In a discussion about missed chances in sports, a fan might say, “The team failed to capitalize on their opponent’s mistakes.”
A person reflecting on their career might say, “I had so many opportunities for promotion, but I failed to capitalize on them.”

34. Mishit

This term is commonly used in sports, particularly in golf or tennis, to describe hitting a ball inaccurately or poorly.

For instance, in a golf game, a player might say, “I mishit the ball and it ended up in the rough.”
In a conversation about missed shots in basketball, someone might say, “He mishit the layup and missed an easy basket.”
A person discussing their tennis match might say, “I mishit the ball and it went out of bounds.”

35. Undershot

This term is often used in shooting or throwing sports to describe missing a target by not aiming high enough.

For example, in archery, someone might say, “I undershot the target and my arrow hit the ground.”
In a discussion about missed goals in soccer, a fan might say, “He undershot the ball and missed an open net.”
A person reflecting on their dart game might say, “I undershot my throw and missed the bullseye.”