gaffe

noun

ˈgaf How to pronounce gaffe (audio)
Definition of gaffenext
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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gaffe Outfielder Jo Adell was out of the lineup on Wednesday, a day after an embarrassing gaffe when a ball hit his head and went over the fence. — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 4 June 2026 Or all the times Republicans went after former President Joe Biden’s gaffes? — S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 18 June 2026 Piero Hincapie had spent most of the day fighting off jokes from team-mates — Gabriel, in particular — and the wider football community after the gaffe with his shorts against Burnley. — Art De Roché, New York Times, 20 May 2026 The gaffe led to widespread speculation that Alito was preparing to retire, and that NPR's Nina Totenberg, who has covered the Supreme Court since the 1970s, jumped the gun by publishing too soon a story she had been tipped off about. — Dan Mangan,luke Fountain,kevin Breuninger,garrett Downs,ashley Capoot,justin Papp, CNBC, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for gaffe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffe
  1. blunder
  2. mistake
  3. error
  4. indiscretion
Noun
  • Sometimes this was committed to good, such as the Marshall Plan and the Peace Corps, and sometimes to ill, as in a series of military blunders meant to quash godless Communism.
    — Jim Rasenberger, The Atlantic, 4 July 2026
  • German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also fallen foul of Germany’s World Cup elimination by Paraguay, after stumbling into a social media debacle following a communications blunder.
    — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of blunder
Noun
  • Despite the full lineup and passionate patriotic crowd in Seattle, Team USA looked uncomfortable from the start, fell behind early, made sloppy mistakes and could not keep up with the Belgians, who move on to face Spain in the quarterfinals.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
  • The scribe carefully inscribed each line with a quill made from a goose feather, while their other hand wielded an erasing knife used to sharpen the quill and scrape away any mistakes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
Definition of mistake
Noun
  • Third baseman Ryan McMahon also committed a throwing error, New York's 19th in its last 14 games.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
  • England is hoping karma is on its side after a famous goal-scoring error sealed a World Cup loss to Argentina 40 years ago at Azteca Stadium.
    — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of error
Noun
  • Eventually, Batula moved past Cooke’s indiscretions and married him in 2021.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 29 June 2026
  • History is littered with the careers of politicians who committed crimes or engaged in moral indiscretions and then tried to lie their way out of public shame.
    — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 June 2026
Definition of indiscretion

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Cite this Entry

“Gaffe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffe. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of gaffe for Spanish Speakers

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