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
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Recent Examples of gaffes
In its 10-episode first season, the show could use a little more heart and soul behind its high jinks and gaffes.
—
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
In a 5-4 loss to the Washington Nationals, the Mets didn’t blow any leads, there were no defensive gaffes and the lineup made life tough on right-hander Brad Lord.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Instead, the show tends to replay these gaffes without adding much new perspective.
—Judy Berman, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
Twists and gaffes happening at the tail end of a race—for which this year’s voting round ended on Tuesday—are nothing new.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2025
Journalists and news organizations told the tech giant about a number of gaffes.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2025
And those gaffes are pointed out in front of the whole team, even if they are committed by esteemed leaders.
—Mike Jones, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
And the Wildcats scored 19 points off of those errors, dwarfing the seven points the Terps converted from Northwestern’s 13 gaffes.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 17 Jan. 2025
Biden, who has faced heavy criticism in recent years for a series of gaffes and apparent mental lapses, mistakenly said that Hezbollah was responsible for the attack while making the ceasefire announcement on Wednesday.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
In a 5-4 loss to the Washington Nationals, the Mets didn’t blow any leads, there were no defensive gaffes and the lineup made life tough on right-hander Brad Lord.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Instead, the show tends to replay these gaffes without adding much new perspective.
—Judy Berman, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
Twists and gaffes happening at the tail end of a race—for which this year’s voting round ended on Tuesday—are nothing new.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2025
Journalists and news organizations told the tech giant about a number of gaffes.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2025
And those gaffes are pointed out in front of the whole team, even if they are committed by esteemed leaders.
—Mike Jones, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
And the Wildcats scored 19 points off of those errors, dwarfing the seven points the Terps converted from Northwestern’s 13 gaffes.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 17 Jan. 2025
Biden, who has faced heavy criticism in recent years for a series of gaffes and apparent mental lapses, mistakenly said that Hezbollah was responsible for the attack while making the ceasefire announcement on Wednesday.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffes
Noun
-
Both André Onana and Altay Bayındır have been used in the three games this season and both have made blunders that have led to conceded goals.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
28 Aug. 2025
-
However, this team often gives opponents an extra out or two by not making the plays it should, throwing to the wrong base or making base-running blunders.—
Jim Bowden,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Until then, don’t make these three common pruning mistakes.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The Chiefs piled up uncharacteristic mistakes, which began early when Kelce was moved off his route and collided with Worthy, causing Worthy to leave the game with a right shoulder injury.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Other discipline errors snowballed after that.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Alcaraz finished with 30 unforced errors, the same total as his opponent.—
Howard Fendrich,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Both their indiscretions seem to be a thing of the past, if King Charles’s actions are to be believed.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gaffes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffes. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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