1
as in blunder
a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark
you can expect to make some amusing gaffs until you get more familiar with the language
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
double-check the new writer's grammar, as it's typically riddled with gaffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to trick
to cause to believe what is untrue
a sleazy schemer who gaffed gullible people into thinking they could get rich with a money-making opportunity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
the operators of the traveling carnival had gaffed patrons with a variety of time-honored ruses
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of gaff
Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
During a fight, birds are typically weighted and then short or long knife and gaff weapons are attached to roosters.
SHARK alerted the county during the fight.
—Allana Smith, Freep.com, 7 Aug. 2025
But the gaff is igniting new calls for Hegseth to be ousted, including from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.).
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 10 July 2025
Transport boxes, electronic scales and gaffs, sharp blades that can be attached to roosters' legs during fights, were found on the property, the news statement said.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gaff
Noun
Crowe leaped from the boat with a fishing gaff and, after several fumbles, managed to flip the trembling, bloodied creature onto the bow deck.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
During a fight, birds are typically weighted and then short or long knife and gaff weapons are attached to roosters.
SHARK alerted the county during the fight.
—Allana Smith, Freep.com, 7 Aug. 2025
But the gaff is igniting new calls for Hegseth to be ousted, including from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.).
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 10 July 2025
Transport boxes, electronic scales and gaffs, sharp blades that can be attached to roosters' legs during fights, were found on the property, the news statement said.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gaff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaff
Noun
-
The blunder in the Supreme Court of Victoria state is another in a litany of mishaps AI has caused in justice systems around the world.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
That was indicative of how Buffalo’s blunders proved costly.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Instead, recruitment mistakes saw their recent troubles compared to United’s since 2013.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The open availability of this kind of material poses a threat not only to migrants and activists but anyone with a digital footprint, because depending on AI to sort through it will inevitably lead to mistakes.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Wiles barely could make the tight final left-hand turn that had tricked Monsen.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
-
After all, seeing people who aren’t there is a common crutch for TV shows that want to trick their audience, bring back a fan-favorite character, or both.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Celia Arguerro, who also has a handicap parking permit, is tired of waiting for reform to catch people cheating the system.—
Larry Seward,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
He likely already would have been inducted were in not for his part in the Astros’ ugly cheating scandal in 2017.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
What the leadership of CBS News, under Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, seems to be most capable of producing is a steady stream of questionable decisions, controversies, and gaffes.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Poehler teased after the gaffe.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Medal reallocations have historically surfaced after doping or other cheating cases, but Chiles’ dispute centered on an apparent error by the International Gymnastics Federation, the sport’s governing body.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Elevated prices though have narrowed the margin for error.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To fool us into doubting our most obvious conclusions about how this story will unfold.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Don’t be fooled by the small bowl either.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Grejo sank scowling back into his chair as though stung by Adi’s answer.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Ten inches of snow and freeze-your-assets-off temperatures stung Broadway over the weekend, forcing cancellations and box office drops for some shows by the hundreds of thousands of dollars.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaff. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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