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

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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

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

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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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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of gaffs
Noun
Sideshow gaffs and American folklore The Feejee Mermaid on display at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and owned by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, may or may not be the one shown by Barnum. — Jack Daly, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026 Did everyone nip round the pub for a pint after, or just leg it to their gaffs? — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffs
  1. blunders
  2. mistakes
  3. tricks
  4. stings
  5. gaffes
  6. errors
  7. fools
  8. cheats
Noun
  • Woeful may have undercut the reality of the Lakers’ first-half shooting blunders from distance.
    — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Despite the blunders, TCU led 14-10 at halftime and had a chance to extend the lead on the first possession of the second half.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of blunders
Noun
  • The company cautioned that Claude can make mistakes in its responses and advised users to check important figures with their banks.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Now, her friends are said to be nervous that Lopez will never learn from her mistakes.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of mistakes
Verb
  • Scams involving direct payments A scammer tricks you into authorizing a wire transfer, sending money through a payment app or purchasing gift cards.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • While Bela is using the bathroom, Other Mommy approaches her and tricks her into agreeing that their family would be better if Frank wasn’t around.
    — William Earl, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of tricks
Verb
  • What stings more is how this year played out—and how stubbornly high home prices are.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2026
  • But even though Az does get it back, the betrayal still stings.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of stings
Noun
  • The Democrat, who supports Jackson, thinks there’s wisdom in trying to avoid gaffes that distract from Collins.
    — Julia Terruso, Time, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The Cougars then committed back-to-back special teams gaffes that let the Irish back in the game.
    — John Coon, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of gaffes
Noun
  • But officials there said that the list appeared to be filled with errors and that setting the ballots aside could effectively disenfranchise legal voters.
    — Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The proposal would also establish that technical errors or inadvertent mistakes in the process cannot be a basis to stop the project.
    — Digital Producer, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of errors
Verb
  • Sebastian Galeano fools the Lake Mary defense by carrying it himself and scampers 40 yards for the touchdown.
    — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Runway, Pika, and a dozen others can produce footage that fools the eye on first watch.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Definition of fools
Verb
  • The move, orchestrated by Everett to satisfy the demands of the company’s top-dollar backers, cheats Michael out of his stock options and equity in the company.
    — Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Any forward who cheats for defence, as Ryan Nugent-Hopkins has for much of his career, will play an elevated role on a Babcock team.
    — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of cheats

Browse Nearby Words

gaffing
gaffs
gag
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Cite this Entry

“Gaffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffs. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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