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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gaffe
Earlier, the Chicago Cubs beat Cleveland 6-5 in 13 innings when Andres Blanco came home on Kerry Wood’s gaffe.
2011 — The Florida Marlins named Jack McKeon interim manager.
—
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
There are benefits to waiting; Apple has largely been able to avoid the embarrassing AI gaffes of its rivals, with one exception.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 8 June 2025
Listen to this article San Diego FC had to wait a bit longer this time to capitalize on a shocking defensive gaffe by the Los Angeles Galaxy, through a full 90 minutes and another four of stoppage time, but its patience was rewarded in the dying moments Saturday afternoon at Snapdragon Stadium.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2025
On Thursday, May 22, the four-time NBA champion appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and explained to the host what really went down during that on-air gaffe.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for gaffe
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025
There are benefits to waiting; Apple has largely been able to avoid the embarrassing AI gaffes of its rivals, with one exception.
—Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 8 June 2025
Listen to this article San Diego FC had to wait a bit longer this time to capitalize on a shocking defensive gaffe by the Los Angeles Galaxy, through a full 90 minutes and another four of stoppage time, but its patience was rewarded in the dying moments Saturday afternoon at Snapdragon Stadium.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2025
On Thursday, May 22, the four-time NBA champion appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and explained to the host what really went down during that on-air gaffe.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 23 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for gaffe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffe
Noun
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Over the past decade, the legendary team was known for tragic blunders regarding decision making and communication.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 July 2025
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In total, Bonilla will walk away with a $29.8 million payday because of Wilpon’s blunder.—
Allen Kim,
CNN Money,
1 July 2025
Noun
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What’s the most common mistake people make when trying to recreate the Honey Deuce at home?—
Emily Cappiello,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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My experience has been that my mistakes led to the best things in my life.—
Lea Veloso,
StyleCaster,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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One 2025 study indicated that facial recognition tools had higher error rates for adults with Down syndrome.—
Janice Gassam Asare,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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The error range for this method is 3% to 4%.4 Bio-electrical Impedance: a measurement method using the speed of a low-level electrical current to determine a person's body composition.—
Patty Weasler,
Verywell Health,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Stuart James Nicolas Jackson’s indiscretion underlines why Chelsea need a summer upgrade The striker is yet to wrest control of a key game and will now be absent over the season's run-in after being sent off at St James' Park How good are Brazil’s Club World Cup teams?—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
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For example, there’s a young private in the novel who has committed several indiscretions—one was purchasing a cow impulsively.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
16 July 2025
Noun
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Then Maxwell’s hooks pulled free and Michie was left trying to hold the shark with only the gaff.—
Donald Millus,
Outdoor Life,
3 July 2025
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The pole pulled out of the gaff hook and Maxwell’s friends pulled tight on the rope.—
Donald Millus,
Outdoor Life,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gaffe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffe. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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