SOLECISM Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

solecism

noun

ˈsä-lə-ˌsi-zəm

Definition of solecism

as in blunder

a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark the solecism of asking one's hosts how much something in their house cost them

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of solecism The result is global English but one without the imprecision and solecism implied by that label. — Colin Marshall, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2022 And a single word couldn’t be a dead giveaway either, no matter how much people would like to portray the use of pled rather than pleaded as an obvious Trumpian solecism, especially when Dowd himself has been documented using pled at least once. — Ben Zimmer, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for solecism

Noun

After last week's high-profile blunder saw Erling Haaland wrongly awarded the winning goal against Manchester United, VAR Matt Donohue and assistant Blake Antrobus have been stood down for this round of fixtures.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
José Caballero, who had a solo homer and an RBI single, and Ben Rice, who blooped a go-ahead, two-run single, also helped the Yankees overcome a few defensive blunders.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of blunder

Noun

In the passing game, Smith played mistake-free football, allowing the Jets’ defense to pin its ears back with a lead and close out the game.

— Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026
And mistakes just don’t happen, said Davin Maske, the Angels’ director of entertainment and production.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of mistake

Noun

This tender novel of intimacy and its risks begins in Boston in 1969, as Eve, a dancer, commences an affair with a colleague—an indiscretion that spurs her husband, a journalist named Gabe, to cheat, too.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Remind him of his indiscretions and ask him to give you the respect to stay away for a while.

— Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of indiscretion

Noun

The Reds tied the score in the bottom half on Swanson’s run-scoring throwing error at shortstop and Ke’Bryan Hayes’ RBI single.

— Gary Schatz, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
Let the machines do what’s mechanical—generating practice problems, flagging errors, grading the responses that are beyond discussion.

— Dan Rockmore, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of error

Noun

But there were also many of the same gaffes that plagued Washington during its miserable 5-12 campaign in 2025.

— Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
There had been an embarrassing episode in Scotland, again on a golf course, in which Harp had made the gaffe of being overly clingy.

— Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of gaffe

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“Solecism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solecism. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of solecism

noun

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