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
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
What the leadership of CBS News, under Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, seems to be most capable of producing is a steady stream of questionable decisions, controversies, and gaffes.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
The errors have ranged from relatively minor pronunciation gaffes to significant changes to story content, like misattributing or inventing quotes and inserting commentary, such as interpreting a source’s quotes as the paper’s position on an issue.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 11 Dec. 2025
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
What the leadership of CBS News, under Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, seems to be most capable of producing is a steady stream of questionable decisions, controversies, and gaffes.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
The errors have ranged from relatively minor pronunciation gaffes to significant changes to story content, like misattributing or inventing quotes and inserting commentary, such as interpreting a source’s quotes as the paper’s position on an issue.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffes
Noun
-
The two even argued about the 2008 parking meter deal, one of the city’s biggest financial blunders.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Even with good intentions, these salon blunders are better avoided, according to experts.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In February 2025, NASA hired an independent team to determine why the mission failed, examining everything from broken hardware to leadership mistakes.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
-
District Attorney John Creuzot has since assigned two lawyers to check the judgments with district clerks to help prevent mistakes.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Judges have a duty to ensure that a person’s liberty, due process rights, and privacy are not compromised by administrative or technical errors.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But those errors didn’t stop his performance on Sunday from helping Team USA earn a gold medal in the team figure skating event.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
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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
-
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
-
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
-
Meister and Tracey Repa were both County Clerk’s Office employees who alleged they were fired by then-Clerk Robin O’Connor after meeting with the Sheriff’s Office to share allegations of improprieties in government contracting related to a courthouse expansion project.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gaffes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffes. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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