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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffes
Noun
-
Orioles pitchers made two defensive blunders Saturday, and the absence of an ABS challenge cost Ryan Helsley in the ninth inning of a gutting loss.—
Jacob Calvin Meyer,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Over the years across Illinois, there has been a litany of agency miscues, blunders and downright neglect, including several in Lake County.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Here are 11 companion planting mistakes to avoid as much as possible in your garden.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Apr. 2026
-
What does the show think of mistakes?—
Marilyn La Jeunesse,
Parents,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Giants totaled three hits and as many errors.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Fullerton took advantage of three errors to score four runs in the third inning on the way to a 5-2 win over Laguna Hills in an Empire League game Friday at Laguna Hills High.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In this case, the arc of the season was primed for Batula to be the victim rising from the ashes of her divorce, only for her recent romantic indiscretions to shatter that fantasy.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
-
For the sake of propriety — Paley was one of the 20th century’s most powerful media paschas — his indiscretions were kept quiet.—
Marc Weingarten,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Mar. 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
-
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
-
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 11 Apr. 2026.
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