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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffes
Noun
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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
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The sufferings caused by a statesman’s blunders are larger than the benefits produced by his accomplishments.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Mental mistakes have led to losses, such as SKC’s most recent 4-1 defeat to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
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Remote diagnostics are a lifeline for IT managers, but simply collecting data on system behavior over time can guide future purchasing decisions and help IT buyers and decision-makers avoid past equipment-acquisition mistakes.—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Fulton County officials have forcefully pushed back, arguing the issues cited reflect routine administrative errors rather than evidence of fraud.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2026
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But his 16 errors last season were tied for seventh most in the major leagues (second among third basemen), and many came on routine plays.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And right now, Taylor cannot stop herself from initiating phone sex with Dakota even while sobbing over his indiscretions at Vanderpump Villa.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
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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
Noun
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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
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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 1 Apr. 2026.
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