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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of gaffs
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Dec. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffs
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
Verb
-
One of the dangers of the Midwestern climate is a late-winter warm spell that thaws the soil and tricks bulbs and other plants into sprouting too early.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Jan. 2026
-
This tricks incoming missiles into targeting the decoy instead of the actual jet.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Of Iran’s many squandered possibilities, the waste of our soft power stings the most.—
Arash Azizi,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
-
This stings less thanks to the healthy variety of all-timers currently in the field.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
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
Verb
-
What fools these non-OpenAI mortals must be.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Inspired by real stories, Eva Marcille portrays a wife who miraculously cheats death after her husband’s (Tyler Lepley) betrayal in Pushed Off a Plane and Survived airing on February 28.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
30 Jan. 2026
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Blashill wants the Blackhawks to be a fast-pressure team at both ends of the rink, one that attacks vertically but never cheats for offense.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gaffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffs. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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