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gaffed

verb

past tense of gaff
1
as in tricked
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cheated
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffed
  1. tricked
  2. cheated
  3. fooled
  4. plucked
  5. deceived
  6. squeezed
  7. hustled
  8. stung
Verb
  • Because you can get tricked very quickly into thinking that acting is all about me.
    — David Katz, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
  • In the past couple of years, deepfakes have already tricked large firms like Arup into wiring $25 million to scammers.
    — Allyson Kapin, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of tricked
Verb
  • The producers’ suit appeared to sputter out in 2022, when a judge ruled that they were not cheated out of profits and that AMC had sued a standard definition.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The Times has interviewed more than a dozen clients and investors who said they were cheated by Holdo.
    — Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of cheated
Verb
  • Earlier in the game, he was fooled on a flea-flicker, and his pass-interference penalty set up the Patriots’ lone touchdown.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Don’t be fooled by the film’s advertising, which features an image of Neeson’s scowling visage dwarfing Levi aiming an automatic weapon.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of fooled
Verb
  • Her words, as if plucked from a Sunday morning sermon, speak to the source of her strength.
    — Nicole Avery Nichols, Freep.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Other items were plucked from antique stores and flea markets around the globe.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of plucked
Verb
  • Furious at having been deceived her whole life, Kylie hops on the next plane to the Owens’ ancestral home in England with the intent of breaking the curse once and for all.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Now some say the operation has left them feeling deceived and questioning whether the White House considered their safety.
    — Scott Nover, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of deceived
Verb
  • Add in Braxton Berrios, the Giants’ punt returner and backup slot receiver, and that squeezed Slayton out.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Independent designers, once a discovery engine, were being squeezed, while the biggest brands put more investment into their own stores, creating a dichotomy in experiences that Bron felt was palpable.
    — Hilary Milnes, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of squeezed
Verb
  • His play-by-play recall might mention the runner who hustled to beat out a double play or the pitchers who kept it close in the later innings.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Facing questions about a totally different set of Piker comments, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hustled into an elevator.
    — Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of hustled
Verb
  • Two years is a long time in the NFL, yet that wild-card loss to the Philadelphia Eagles still stung in the building.
    — Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • By mid-morning, bees continued to fly around as city workers did their best to cut the tree without getting stung or agitating the hives any further.
    — Ross Guidotti, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of stung
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.

Browse Nearby Words

gaffe
gaffed
gaffer
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Cite this Entry

“Gaffed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffed. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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