as in mistake
a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark
according to an oft-told story, the queen set a guest at ease about a faux pas by politely imitating it
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Recent Examples of faux pas
Guy Fieri's recent faux pas has left a bad taste in fans' mouths.
—
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
But maybe still with a social faux pas with Megan Thee Stallion.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
Yet at a large function, announcing your departure could actually be more of a faux pas.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Last year’s Challengers omission was a faux pas, but Daniel Lopatin’s snub for Marty Supreme should be a debated at The Hague.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for faux pas
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2026
But maybe still with a social faux pas with Megan Thee Stallion.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
Yet at a large function, announcing your departure could actually be more of a faux pas.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 17 Mar. 2026
Last year’s Challengers omission was a faux pas, but Daniel Lopatin’s snub for Marty Supreme should be a debated at The Hague.
—Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for faux pas
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faux pas
Noun
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Kreider made no mistake hammering the puck past Hart from the low slot.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
9 May 2026
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That will also be a huge difference from the Orbán regime, when there was no responsibility or consequences of any crime, any political mistake.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Noun
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In a recent tactical blunder, the first lady’s farcical rollout of a teacher robot made unusually clear what this administration really thinks of children, teachers and schools.—
Randi Weingarten,
Fortune,
6 May 2026
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Although the mom of four appeared to spend the rest of her night faux pas-free, she's had to handle sartorial blunders before.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Mayer advanced to third on a subsequent error by Walls trying to flip the ball to second base, which scored Yoshida, and came home himself on Caleb Durbin’s RBI single, tying the game at 3-3.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
8 May 2026
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He was found dead by suicide in his jail cell that August — the result of what federal investigators concluded in 2023 was a cascade of misconduct, negligence and errors by staff at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.—
Tom Winter,
NBC news,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Faux pas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faux%20pas. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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