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
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Recent Examples of gaffes
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
Athletic director Scott Barnes has made a series of gaffes in Corvallis.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
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
Athletic director Scott Barnes has made a series of gaffes in Corvallis.
—Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffes
Noun
-
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.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
-
Read on to see the beauty blunders, silly styling and overall head-to-toe outfits that these stars regret.—
Tanisha Bhat,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Defense attorney Alexandra Kazarian said California politicians are repeating age-old mistakes of trying to arrest their way out of a mental health crisis.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
Some mistakes also went viral, creating an embarrassing moment for McDonald's and raising questions about whether the technology was ready for the drive-thru.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
There were four takes of the first song, ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’, with two being aborted because of technical errors.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
20 June 2026
-
Such a system could dramatically improve legal research and reduce errors.—
Sreedhar Potarazu,
Baltimore Sun,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
Was the majesty of America’s historical mission enough to forgive the indiscretions of the present?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 June 2026
-
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.—
Shannon A. Mullen,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
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.—
Timia Cobb,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
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
-
County Clerk Anthony Vega said in an interview on Wednesday that his office has the necessary sophisticated equipment to discern voting improprieties.—
Steve Sadin,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
Based on evidence found in the initial weeks, the school and law firm still needed actual proof of improprieties, and not having to base their claims on scuttlebutt around the facility.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gaffes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffes. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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