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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffes
Noun
-
Although the mom of four appeared to spend the rest of her night faux pas-free, she's had to handle sartorial blunders before.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
-
There were other conspicuous blunders, like passing from midair out of jumpers and right to Lakers defenders.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Find the groups without making four mistakes.—
Mark Cooper,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
-
Lahren opened the discussion by contrasting today’s climate with the past, noting that traditional PR cleanup has been replaced by a mass horde looking to end lives over minor mistakes.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
The Post last year reported that an early version of directory was rife with errors, including misidentifying which health care providers were covered by which health care plans.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 May 2026
-
Casey Dart hit a leadoff single for Norton in the fifth, and a rare pair of errors helped the Lancers plate two with nobody out.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Coming Up Carbs In a third act mea culpa that feels reminiscent of Andy and Nate’s makeup from the first film, Emily apologizes to Andy for her latest round of workplace indiscretions.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
1 May 2026
-
According to Becerra, actually, Democrats have done wonders for Californians with only a few minor indiscretions.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Stewart’s successor, Mayor Bobby Sanchez, a Democrat, suspended Blogoslawski in February amid allegations of improprieties, including the careless handling of cash and the backdating of tax payments to avoid interest penalties.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gaffes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffes. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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