Synonyms of gaffs

gaffs 1 of 2

noun

plural of gaff

1

as in blunders

a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark

you can expect to make some amusing gaffs until you get more familiar with the language

Synonyms & Similar Words

• blunders
• mistakes
• gaffes
• errors
• indiscretions
• improprieties
• solecisms
• faux pas
• familiarities
• miscues
• flubs
• fumbles
• missteps
• goofs
• offenses
• slipups
• discourtesies
• incivilities
• stumbles
• lapses
• oversights
• misstatements
• howlers
• miscalculations
• slips
• misjudgments
• misconceptions
• misunderstandings
• boners
• muffs
• foul-ups
• misapprehensions

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gestures
• amenities
• courtesies
• formalities
• attentions
• manners
• pleasantries
• forms
• civilities
• mores
• proprieties

2

as in mistakes

an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy

double-check the new writer's grammar, as it's typically riddled with gaffs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mistakes
• blunders
• errors
• fumbles
• gaffes
• miscues
• inaccuracies
• flubs
• trips
• stumbles
• missteps
• goofs
• bricks
• clangers
• screwups
• faults
• bobbles
• slipups
• oversights
• lapses
• boobs
• clinkers
• slips
• fluffs
• boo-boos
• bloopers
• pratfalls
• howlers
• snafus
• misunderstandings
• misstatements
• boners
• miscalculations
• misinterpretations
• bloomers
• misjudgments
• misconceptions
• misreadings
• misconstructions
• foul-ups
• misapprehensions
• misimpressions
• misdescriptions
• miscomprehensions

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accuracies
• precisions
• exactitudes
• perfections
• infallibilities
• inerrancies

gaffs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of gaff

1

as in tricks

to cause to believe what is untrue

a sleazy schemer who gaffed gullible people into thinking they could get rich with a money-making opportunity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tricks
• fools
• deceives
• hoaxes
• kids
• teases
• spoofs
• stings
• suckers
• dupes
• humbugs
• juggles
• bamboozles
• hoodwinks
• deludes
• strings along
• cons
• gulls
• bluffs
• misleads
• snookers
• catches
• misinforms
• cheats
• snows
• misguides
• cozens
• gammons
• sucks in
• burns
• buffaloes
• has on
• fakes out
• takes in
• beguiles
• has
• hornswoggles
• does a number on
• sticks
• leads one down the garden path
• pulls one's leg
• swindles
• pulls the wool over one's eyes
• chisels
• hustles
• mulcts
• rooks
• fleeces
• bleeds
• diddles
• puts on
• defrauds
• skins
• shortchanges
• flimflams
• squeezes
• euchres

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reveals
• exposes
• shows up
• uncovers
• unmasks
• debunks
• discloses
• undeceives
• divulges
• tells
• unveils
• uncloaks
• disillusions
• disabuses
• disenchants

2

as in stings

to rob by the use of trickery or threats

the operators of the traveling carnival had gaffed patrons with a variety of time-honored ruses

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stings
• cheats
• hustles
• plucks
• sticks
• squeezes
• screws
• tricks
• beats
• fiddles
• shorts
• suckers
• swindles
• does
• chisels
• bleeds
• exploits
• reams
• deceives
• cons
• mulcts
• stiffs
• rooks
• fools
• hoses
• fleeces
• shakes down
• clips
• rips off
• diddles
• skins
• victimizes
• cozens
• nobbles
• defrauds
• bilks
• skunks
• shortchanges
• flimflams
• wrenches
• chouses
• thimblerigs
• betrays
• sells a bill of goods to
• nicks
• takes to the cleaners
• euchres
• gouges
• does in
• takes for a ride
• overcharges
• dupes
• extorts
• gulls
• milks
• soaks
• wrings
• wrests
• bamboozles
• bitches
• double-crosses
• ropes (in)
• fast-talks

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of gaffs

Noun

The lower spars and booms are Oregon Pine, while the upper masts, gaffs, jackyards, and spinnaker boom are Alaskan Sitka Spruce. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 Aug. 2026

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