1
as in blunder
a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark
committed a huge gaffe when she started drinking from the finger bowl
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2
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
so-called debates, which seemed to be mainly about seeing which candidate made the most gaffes
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Recent Examples of gaffe
Eto’s gaffe could not have come at a worse time for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s government, which was already suffering from low approval ratings due to spiraling cost of living, weeks ahead of an election.
—
Chris Lau, CNN Money, 21 May 2025
That meant the Padres were still up when a gaffe in the sixth led to an Angels run.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
Trump’s gaffes aren’t just part of his presidency; gaffes are part of the storied tradition of the American presidency.
—Chris Lamb, The Conversation, 2 May 2025
Lutnick’s tenure has been marked by these sorts of gaffes.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gaffe
Chris Lau, CNN Money, 21 May 2025
That meant the Padres were still up when a gaffe in the sixth led to an Angels run.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2025
Trump’s gaffes aren’t just part of his presidency; gaffes are part of the storied tradition of the American presidency.
—Chris Lamb, The Conversation, 2 May 2025
Lutnick’s tenure has been marked by these sorts of gaffes.
—Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gaffe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffe
Noun
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Even with good intentions, these salon blunders are better avoided, according to experts.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
19 June 2025
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Other big moments in Trump’s presidency include the leak of U.S. military attack plans to Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, what was widely considered to be the first major blunder of his second term.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Noun
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Here are the five hidden profile mistakes that stop your ideal clients getting in touch.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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Jumping onto Andrew Cuomo’s leaky ship was a devastating mistake for the pro-Israel movement.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Many small business workers may not have digital access or face language barriers when missing paperwork or tech errors can result in automatic loss of coverage.—
Rhett Buttle,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
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That poll surveyed 658 Virginia residents between May 12 and May 19, and has a weighted margin of error of 5.25 percent.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Noun
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The longtime lawman has been accused of personal indiscretions such as receiving a nude photo of a co-worker, and professional missteps including his deputies’ aggressive actions in pursuing shoplifters at a Target and killing their driver.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2025
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Chef Snowden’s faith creates tension, causing his place on the boat to come into question, but Stillie’s possible indiscretion with a charter guest causes the ultimate dilemma on board.—
Dana Rose Falcone,
People.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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Anglers need both an angling license and a recreational turtle license to harvest turtles using angling gear like hook and line, landing nets and gaff hooks.—
Kay Johnson,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gaffe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffe. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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