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
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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
Her predecessor, Geoff Morrell, was unpopular internally and connected to several gaffes that didn’t help Chapek’s rocky time at the helm.
—
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Feb. 2026
Continue reading … DIGITAL'S NEWS QUIZ — Where did AOC commit gaffes on global stage?
—FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Republicans and some Democrats mocked her for gaffes.
—Elaine Mallon, Baltimore Sun, 17 Feb. 2026
Those gaffes cost McAtamney his spot on the roster.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
The Tigers’ lead certainly would have been larger at that point — when MU led 34-30 — if not for those gaffes.
—The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2026
For a show that claims to know Hollywood as well as this one, there are a number of all-too-convenient gaffes.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2026
This could illuminate the types of mistakes or gaffes that a therapist just out of the gate might make.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Video footage of the gaffes suggests otherwise.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 21 Jan. 2026
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Feb. 2026
Continue reading … DIGITAL'S NEWS QUIZ — Where did AOC commit gaffes on global stage?
—FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Republicans and some Democrats mocked her for gaffes.
—Elaine Mallon, Baltimore Sun, 17 Feb. 2026
Those gaffes cost McAtamney his spot on the roster.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
The Tigers’ lead certainly would have been larger at that point — when MU led 34-30 — if not for those gaffes.
—The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 7 Feb. 2026
For a show that claims to know Hollywood as well as this one, there are a number of all-too-convenient gaffes.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2026
This could illuminate the types of mistakes or gaffes that a therapist just out of the gate might make.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Video footage of the gaffes suggests otherwise.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffes
Noun
-
Overall, those who laughed at their own minor blunders were judged more positively than those who appeared visibly embarrassed.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Sadly, Israel will eventually not be as lucky as Magoo, who always manages to walk away from his blunders unscathed.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Builders make many types of mistakes in their plans, according to Terri Faulkner, a floor plan design expert in Rocklin, California.—
Lew Sichelman,
Miami Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
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Letting your kids make mistakes and learn from them is a great way to help them to learn independence.—
Margery D. Rosen,
Parents,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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No man’s land Remarkably, all of this has been happening in a regulatory vacuum and with technology that is known to make errors.—
Parmy Olson,
Mercury News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Documents released since December have included redaction errors, leaked victim identities, and ongoing complaints of mishandling by department officials.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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These reported indiscretions — on which Wasserman did not comment — caused a stir at the time but seemed to fade as weeks went by.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Jack, a detective with the sheriff's department, is just trying to keep his indiscretions from being broadcast on the 6 o'clock news.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
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In 2018, after the Miami Herald published an investigation into Epstein’s crimes, the Justice Department’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) opened another investigation at the behest of Congress into possible improprieties involving Florida prosecutors.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
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Clark, who had spent more than a dozen years as the union’s executive director, is also under federal investigation by the Eastern District of New York for allegations of financial improprieties and misuse of union funds.—
Shawn McFarland,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gaffes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffes. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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