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
Yet, the number of travel faux pas tourists make while strolling the streets of Milan, meandering through ancient ruins in Athens, or cruising around the Mediterranean remains pretty high, considering the increase in visits to Europe's major cities.
—
Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
But to hear Short tell it, that camaraderie was nearly shattered in September when the veteran comedian committed what might be the ultimate wedding faux pas at the nuptials of Gomez and music producer Benny Blanco.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 Jan. 2026
The big faux pas of exclusivity and detachment that over-the-shoulder knits once represented has become one of the leading styling tricks dominating street style everywhere.
—Alejandro Badia, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
Dark Granite Countertops Dark granite countertops are another design faux pas to avoid if timeless and sophisticated is the goal, Vanderford says.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for faux pas
Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2026
But to hear Short tell it, that camaraderie was nearly shattered in September when the veteran comedian committed what might be the ultimate wedding faux pas at the nuptials of Gomez and music producer Benny Blanco.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 22 Jan. 2026
The big faux pas of exclusivity and detachment that over-the-shoulder knits once represented has become one of the leading styling tricks dominating street style everywhere.
—Alejandro Badia, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
Dark Granite Countertops Dark granite countertops are another design faux pas to avoid if timeless and sophisticated is the goal, Vanderford says.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 19 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for faux pas
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faux pas
Noun
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The back line — still reeling from the departure of center back Adilson Malanda this offseason — shored up its mistakes and stood tall.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Mar. 2026
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The third mistake involves process.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Noem’s dissmissal comes after she was berated by lawmakers on Capitol Hill over a series of disastrous blunders by her department, including the killings of two American citizens by border patrol agents in Minneapolis and apparent attempts by DHS to stifle investigations into the shootings.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
6 Mar. 2026
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The infielder was mocked on social media after a head-scratching baserunning blunder against his former team, the Miami Marlins, in August.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In the Oakland days, there was less margin for error.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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For seasoned pickleball players, finding the best paddle for competitive play may require a series of trial-and-error attempts, but a little education about paddle types can also go a long way.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Faux pas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faux%20pas. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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