1
as in blunders
a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark
committed a huge gaffe when she started drinking from the finger bowl
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of gaffes
Or all the times Republicans went after former President Joe Biden’s gaffes?
—
S.e. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
18 June 2026
Canseco's misplay – one of the most infamous gaffes in sports history – similarly resulted in a home run for the other team.
—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
It was so well presented with countless references to viral moments and gaffes.
—
Jon Root Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
There were glitches and gaffes aplenty.
—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
No major gaffes to leave any of the contestants sprawled on the killing floor.
—
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Morgan and Tilis want to give Panthers head coach Dave Canales the best roster possible, and the duo wasn’t afraid to dissect their previous gaffes to make sure that happened.
—
Mike Kaye
april 20,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Apr. 2026
His portrayal of academic life will leave real professors wincing, if not giggling … Despite the obvious research that Martel put into his novel, there are too many gaffes about Homer and Greek epic to persuade any expert.
—
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
Last Saturday alone, there were multiple gaffes.
—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
S.e. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
18 June 2026
Canseco's misplay – one of the most infamous gaffes in sports history – similarly resulted in a home run for the other team.
—
Sean Neumann,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
It was so well presented with countless references to viral moments and gaffes.
—
Jon Root Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
There were glitches and gaffes aplenty.
—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
No major gaffes to leave any of the contestants sprawled on the killing floor.
—
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Morgan and Tilis want to give Panthers head coach Dave Canales the best roster possible, and the duo wasn’t afraid to dissect their previous gaffes to make sure that happened.
—
Mike Kaye
april 20,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Apr. 2026
His portrayal of academic life will leave real professors wincing, if not giggling … Despite the obvious research that Martel put into his novel, there are too many gaffes about Homer and Greek epic to persuade any expert.
—
Literary Hub,
2 Apr. 2026
Last Saturday alone, there were multiple gaffes.
—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffes
Noun
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Colorado's rally offset a pair of baserunning blunders that ended the eighth.
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Once again, Towns, who hadn’t gotten into foul trouble in what felt like a basketball eternity, pulled off a series of blunders, picking up two fouls in the game’s opening 62 seconds.
Noun
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The team's mistakes cost the players early on when Germany scored in the 2nd minute to earn the lead.
-
Sure, a lot of the mistakes or poor moments in defense can be waved away by recognizing that most of the team’s best defenders were sitting on the bench when the Turks wheeled away in delight with Ayhan’s goal.
Noun
-
Tigers rookies Hao-Yu Lee and Kevin McGonigle drove in two runs apiece after errors by third baseman José Caballero and left fielder Cody Bellinger.
-
The Giants used three infield hits and two errors to score a pair of runs against Sale in the sixth inning, then Matt Chapman’s double set up Luis Arraez’s sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Noun
-
Was the majesty of America’s historical mission enough to forgive the indiscretions of the present?
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Democratic leaders seem determined not to allow anything to get in the way of winning Maine’s Senate seat, even if that requires willful blindness toward Platner’s lengthening record of indiscretions.
Noun
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Spurs on some of the chickens were cut excessively short to fit steel fighting gaffs and blades for more lethal fighting, deputies said.
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Cockfighting draws scrutiny, too, with homes searched for steroids or gaffs — the sharp blades that get strapped to a fighting rooster’s feet.
Noun
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During Monday’s meeting trustees forcefully pushed back on the suggestion that there were governance improprieties.
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County Clerk Anthony Vega said in an interview on Wednesday that his office has the necessary sophisticated equipment to discern voting improprieties.
Cite this Entry
“Gaffes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffes. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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