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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of faux pas
There have never been so many ways to feel festive without risking a hangover (or a holiday-party faux pas).
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
Wayans quickly attempted to make light of his hosting faux pas.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 8 Dec. 2025
That led to several high-profile faux pas that sent his aides into damage limitation mode.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 3 Dec. 2025
With The Chair Company, Robinson and his longtime partner in crime, Zach Kanin, take the motifs that long peppered their work (drab offices, social faux pas, screaming men, sweaty entitlement) and stretch them into a fever dream of horror in the banality.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for faux pas
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025
Wayans quickly attempted to make light of his hosting faux pas.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 8 Dec. 2025
That led to several high-profile faux pas that sent his aides into damage limitation mode.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 3 Dec. 2025
With The Chair Company, Robinson and his longtime partner in crime, Zach Kanin, take the motifs that long peppered their work (drab offices, social faux pas, screaming men, sweaty entitlement) and stretch them into a fever dream of horror in the banality.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for faux pas
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faux pas
Noun
-
One of the biggest mistakes people make with space heaters is using an extension cord.—
Shivani Vyas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Jake returns to 2011 with the intention of going back to 1960 and doing it all over again, this time without making the mistakes that led to Sadie's death.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The governor refused to answer reporter questions on if whoever was responsible for the buyout blunder faced any disciplinary action, instead just confirming that action has been taken.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
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Experts say that the painful blunder could undercut trust in the agency and lead to confusion.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The federal government primarily finances supplemental food benefits, but the state’s share is determined, in part, by its management, as indicated by its rate of error when determining people’s eligibility.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The research depended on computer simulations, which meant that tiny adjustments to the initial state of the digital fluid (or any digital rounding errors) wouldn’t affect the fluid’s fate.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Faux pas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faux%20pas. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
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