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

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