gaffes

noun

plural of gaffe
1
as in blunders
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 mistakes
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 gaffes The Democrat, who supports Jackson, thinks there’s wisdom in trying to avoid gaffes that distract from Collins. — Julia Terruso, Time, 26 Oct. 2026 The Cougars then committed back-to-back special teams gaffes that let the Irish back in the game. — John Coon, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 Shroff also said the debate produced no major gaffes or race-changing moments in a contest that has already attracted substantial national attention and spending. — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026 But the clips are inescapable on my Instagram feed, and the science gaffes seem … real bad. — Brittany Trang, STAT, 7 Oct. 2026 One of its more glaring gaffes within the past couple years is the delay of Caitlin Clark's signature sneaker. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Uncharacteristic gaffes could have proved costly, from a punt bouncing off Siran Neal’s legs to Eddy Piñeiro’s golden boot missing two point-after kicks. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 28 Sep. 2026 Defense holds strong after first-half gaffes The Trojans ran the ball from heavy formations and used play-action off those looks to incrementally make their way down the field. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 20 Sep. 2026 But there were also many of the same gaffes that plagued Washington during its miserable 5-12 campaign in 2025. — Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffes
  1. blunders
  2. mistakes
  3. errors
  4. indiscretions
  5. gaffs
  6. improprieties
Noun
  • Burks said that leadership blunders are at the problem’s crux.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Soon-to-be Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski held the Rays to just one run in his five innings, but certainly not without the help of some Rays baserunning blunders.
    — Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of blunders
Noun
  • The system is designed to let robots identify mistakes during operation, adjust their behavior and retain useful experience for subsequent attempts.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Florida judges, lawmakers and governors perpetuate the patently unreliable assumption that jurors never make mistakes.
    — Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of mistakes
Noun
  • But officials there said that the list appeared to be filled with errors and that setting the ballots aside could effectively disenfranchise legal voters.
    — Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The proposal would also establish that technical errors or inadvertent mistakes in the process cannot be a basis to stop the project.
    — Digital Producer, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of errors
Noun
  • For many in the Republican establishment, these indiscretions have pushed Paxton beyond the pale, but that’s of little concern to the nominee’s supporters.
    — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 30 Oct. 2026
  • All of these cases have provided something of a template for missteps and indiscretions by people who work in sports media.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of indiscretions
Noun
  • Did everyone nip round the pub for a pint after, or just leg it to their gaffs?
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The lower spars and booms are Oregon Pine, while the upper masts, gaffs, jackyards, and spinnaker boom are Alaskan Sitka Spruce.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of gaffs
Noun
  • Federal prosecutors are also looking into alleged financial improprieties involving Walter’s insurance companies.
    — John Hollinger, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Former Washington owner Dan Snyder was fined $60 million and ultimately forced to sell the team after multiple investigations found widespread workplace misconduct and a referral to the Federal Trade Commission alleged financial improprieties.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of improprieties

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gaffers
gaffes
gaffing
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Cite this Entry

“Gaffes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffes. Accessed 4 Nov. 2026.

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