1
as in mistake
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blunder
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
double-check the new writer's grammar, as it's typically riddled with gaffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to trick
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 to cheat
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gaff
Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 7 Aug. 2024
Dana Taylor: How can people determine the difference between just a normal gaff and when there's actually something wrong?
—Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
Sunday's cartoons - airline safety, teleprompter gaffs, and more
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By The Week US
published April 28, 2024
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber.
—The Week Us, theweek, 28 Apr. 2024
Despite the gaff, Redmaye is still hoping to sneak his son and daughter into the August Wilson Theatre in New York City to see his opening number.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for gaff
Noun
Some of the gear commonly used for technical climbing, like gaffs—steel spikes worn on the legs for added grip on the tree trunk when cutting branches—can also cause inadvertent damage to the tallest trees.
—Jayme Moye, Outside Online, 7 Aug. 2024
Dana Taylor: How can people determine the difference between just a normal gaff and when there's actually something wrong?
—Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024
Sunday's cartoons - airline safety, teleprompter gaffs, and more
Newsletter sign up
By The Week US
published April 28, 2024
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber.
—The Week Us, theweek, 28 Apr. 2024
Despite the gaff, Redmaye is still hoping to sneak his son and daughter into the August Wilson Theatre in New York City to see his opening number.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 13 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for gaff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaff
Noun
-
How does that kind of high-consequence mistake happen?—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Piastri, who made a mistake that cost him the win at the Australian GP last week, capitalized on clean air in Shanghai to steadily build his advantage as the race evolved into a strategic battle between one and two-stop strategies.—
Luke Smith,
The Athletic,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
After coalescing with ultranationalists to establish the nation's furthest right government in late 2022, the former special forces commando who had already become Israel's longest serving premier largely deflected criticism over the intelligence blunder of October 7, 2023.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Yet, the Trump White House and leading Republicans in Congress have tried mightily to put a positive spin on the colossal blunder, even as Democrats pounced on it.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Increasingly, criminals are able to use commonly available tools to launch sophisticated phishing scams, going as far as digitally replicating faces and voices in order to trick security systems.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Phishing is a cyber-attack that aims to trick people into divulging personal information.—
Solcyré Burga,
TIME,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
These are distinctions with meaningful differences: Smartphones are full-on computers in the pocket, tempting kids with nonstop streams of posts and videos and music and so much more, including instant access to AI bots that make cheating that much easier.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Broner reportedly is said to have cheated a current NBA All-Star out of $1.5 million and a former player out of $5 million in the games.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
All the results were just outside margins of error.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
-
The lawsuit claims medical errors happened during the procedure, which led to the bowel perforation.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Don't let anyone fool you into abandoning the single most effective social program in our nation's history.—
John T. Harvey,
Forbes.com,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Likely draft position: Early-mid rounds Cam Miller, QB, North Dakota State: Don’t be fooled by Miller spending five years at the FCS level.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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With very little time left in the season, how the Lakers respond to Thursday’s stinging defeat could have a significant impact on their playoff outlook.—
Khobi Price,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2025
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Bruce was badly bruised by experiences at Newcastle and West Brom, the two jobs that preceded Blackpool where personal criticisms stung.—
Philip Buckingham,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Some Wheel of Fortune gaffes are simply more cringe-worthy than others.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Mar. 2025
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Read more Adrien Brody gives powerful Oscar speech after Best Actor win The worst Super Bowl ads of 2025 Hulu's Oscars gaffe, email error sparks anger During the ceremony, Oscars host Conan O'Brien poked fun at the Dune star's outfit color choice.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaff. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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