SOLECISM Synonyms: 44 Similar and Opposite Words

solecism

noun

ˈsä-lə-ˌsi-zəm

Definition of solecism

as in blunder

a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark the solecism of asking one's hosts how much something in their house cost them

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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 solecism The result is global English but one without the imprecision and solecism implied by that label. — Colin Marshall, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2022 And a single word couldn’t be a dead giveaway either, no matter how much people would like to portray the use of pled rather than pleaded as an obvious Trumpian solecism, especially when Dowd himself has been documented using pled at least once. — Ben Zimmer, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for solecism

Noun

That doesn’t sound cheap, but thinking any premium means a fund is pricey is another first-level blunder.

— Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
In 2026, Mattel is doubling down and averting any PR blunders with a Holiday Barbie that, by all accounts, looks genuinely gorgeous.

— Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 29 July 2026

Definition of blunder

Noun

Our work shows that expressive cues appear to shift how people perceive a mistake out of the category of technical malfunction and into the category of social violation, like those that happen between people.

— Yigit Topoglu, The Conversation, 3 Aug. 2026
But according to rocket scientists at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), slamming a nuclear warhead directly into the side of a space rock is a rookie mistake.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of mistake

Noun

Eventually, Batula moved past Cooke’s indiscretions and married him in 2021.

— Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 29 June 2026
History is littered with the careers of politicians who committed crimes or engaged in moral indiscretions and then tried to lie their way out of public shame.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 June 2026

Definition of indiscretion

Noun

The gaffe allowed Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros — who had hit a one-out single — to score from second.

— Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
One of the five errors in the game was a gaffe by Bogaerts in the eighth inning that helped the Rockies take a 7-6 lead.

— Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2026

Definition of gaffe

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“Solecism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/solecism. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of solecism

noun

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