1
as in mistakes
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
that typo is one of the text's rare goofs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in idiots
a stupid person
leave it to that goof to forget the bait on a fishing trip
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 goofs
Johnny Carson made fun of politicians, but mostly their public goofs, not their policies.
—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
20 May 2026
These compounding goofs demand accountability and a sober reassessment of the competence of American leadership.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
And watching the Timberwolves goofs who’ve barked on social media eat their words is going to be absolutely quacktacular.
—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
14 Apr. 2026
Between unintentionally funny goofs and allegations of affairs, the casting directors struck gold with this one.
—
Tiffany Kelly,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
One hundred fifty five days later, the Guardians have regained pole position in the AL Central, once again the result of a frenetic flash of bunts, chops and goofs that converted a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 advantage.
—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
20 May 2026
These compounding goofs demand accountability and a sober reassessment of the competence of American leadership.
—
Voice Of The People,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
And watching the Timberwolves goofs who’ve barked on social media eat their words is going to be absolutely quacktacular.
—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
14 Apr. 2026
Between unintentionally funny goofs and allegations of affairs, the casting directors struck gold with this one.
—
Tiffany Kelly,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
One hundred fifty five days later, the Guardians have regained pole position in the AL Central, once again the result of a frenetic flash of bunts, chops and goofs that converted a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 advantage.
—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for goofs
Noun
-
The team's mistakes cost the players early on when Germany scored in the 2nd minute to earn the lead.
-
Sure, a lot of the mistakes or poor moments in defense can be waved away by recognizing that most of the team’s best defenders were sitting on the bench when the Turks wheeled away in delight with Ayhan’s goal.
Noun
-
This is different from the pastime counterfactuals enjoyed after the fact by barfly drunks and social media idiots.
-
Kids, let’s face it, are idiots by nature, and that’s not their fault.
Noun
-
There were four takes of the first song, ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’, with two being aborted because of technical errors.
-
Such a system could dramatically improve legal research and reduce errors.
Noun
-
There are complicated brain-chemistry factors involved that have to do with testosterone, and dopaminergic systems, and kappa-opioid receptors, all of which seem to add up to a Jim Gaffigan joke about how men are morons compared with their wives.
-
The Dilbert principle — traced back to a quote in a 1995 strip — posited that managers and higher-ups are actually successful morons whose stubbornness is confused for real leadership qualities.
Noun
-
Colorado's rally offset a pair of baserunning blunders that ended the eighth.
-
Once again, Towns, who hadn’t gotten into foul trouble in what felt like a basketball eternity, pulled off a series of blunders, picking up two fouls in the game’s opening 62 seconds.
Noun
-
The lunatics are running the asylum.
-
Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, Michael Cera, Will Arnett and other lunatics round out the cast.
Cite this Entry
“Goofs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/goofs. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
