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
Keller took advantage and scored after two of the gaffes and the third killed a drive in the end zone.
—
Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2025
For a team that has won so many close games relying on Butker, the gaffes have raised concerns.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
The special teams gaffes are too frequent.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
Even gaffes that happened when the show began have stayed with the dancers, specifically Kelly Monaco, who recounted her skirt falling apart during her number with Alec Mazo.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gaffe
Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2025
For a team that has won so many close games relying on Butker, the gaffes have raised concerns.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
The special teams gaffes are too frequent.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 25 Sep. 2025
Even gaffes that happened when the show began have stayed with the dancers, specifically Kelly Monaco, who recounted her skirt falling apart during her number with Alec Mazo.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gaffe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffe
Noun
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Base running blunder The Tigers had a great chance to put together a big inning in the second, after Trey Sweeney hit a sacrifice fly, knocking in a run.—
Ryan Ford,
Freep.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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That blunder came one series after Slayton had a brutal drop on a 50-yard bomb from Dart that would have put the ball inside the Saints’ 20-yard line.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Steelers, Saints, Cardinals Sam Darnold was nearly perfect (28-of-34 passing for 341 yards and four touchdowns), but his one mistake was a costly interception late that set up the Bucs’ winning field goal.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Mahomes methodically pushed the offense to Jacksonville’s goal line before making what was a game-changing mistake.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Vehicles included in this recall may have an error in the instrument panel software at startup, failing to show speed, brake system information, and tire pressure warning lights.—
Olivia Evans,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
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Yes, plenty of errors were made — six of them by shortstop Trevor Story in September alone — but errors are different from gaffes.—
Steve Buckley,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Both their indiscretions seem to be a thing of the past, if King Charles’s actions are to be believed.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
31 Aug. 2025
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Many of Combs' former colleagues have spoken out about his personal and professional indiscretions since his arrest.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
The Enquirer,
28 July 2025
Noun
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Half an hour later Denio had worked the fish up from the bottom near their boat, where crew members sunk a large flying gaff into it.—
Bob McNally,
Outdoor Life,
4 Sep. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Gaffe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffe. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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