1
as in blunder
a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark
committed a huge gaffe when she started drinking from the finger bowl
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2
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
so-called debates, which seemed to be mainly about seeing which candidate made the most gaffes
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Recent Examples of gaffe
But the Lions got their most recent win despite Goff’s gaffes.
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Larry Lage, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Nov. 2024
Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf said Biden’s gaffe at least raised the question of whether the president had stepped on Harris’s moment.
—Julia Mueller, The Hill, 30 Oct. 2024
Quarterback Will Howard, whose late clock-management gaffe doomed the Buckeyes in Eugene, has been impressive since.
—Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
The Bears’ second major special teams gaffe came in the third quarter when Carter was trying to call players off from touching a Vikings punt, and the ball bounced up and hit him in the leg.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 24 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gaffe 
Larry Lage, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Nov. 2024
Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf said Biden’s gaffe at least raised the question of whether the president had stepped on Harris’s moment.
—Julia Mueller, The Hill, 30 Oct. 2024
Quarterback Will Howard, whose late clock-management gaffe doomed the Buckeyes in Eugene, has been impressive since.
—Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
The Bears’ second major special teams gaffe came in the third quarter when Carter was trying to call players off from touching a Vikings punt, and the ball bounced up and hit him in the leg.
—Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 24 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gaffe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffe
Noun
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Sunday, Stroud threw two interceptions and ran out of the back of the end zone while avoiding a pass rusher with 1:13 left, a blunder that resulted in a safety that sealed the Tennessee Titans’ 32-27 victory.Joseph Person, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
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The biggest drama surrounding the Browns this season has nothing to do with quarterback play, personnel decisions or on-field blunders.Troy Smith, Axios, 21 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Currency with mistakes can also be worth a lot, so be on the lookout for modern dimes without the S mark.Miguel Legoas, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
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But getting the technology to follow open-ended commands reliably remains a challenge, with the risk that errors could translate into costly and hard-to-undo mistakes.Will Knight, WIRED, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The margin for error in these elite matchups is small, and the Ravens are struggling to overcome their mistakes.Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 2 Dec. 2024
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This copy may not be in its final form, may be updated and may contain minor transcription errors.ABC News, ABC News, 1 Dec. 2024
Noun
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In the process, gossip comes to light, and indiscretions ruin the hopes of some.Gerrad Hall, EW.com, 27 Nov. 2024
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Scoring a stunning goal was not the expected way for Yves Bissouma to make amends for his recent indiscretions.Jack Pitt-Brooke, The Athletic, 24 Aug. 2024
Noun
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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
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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
Thesaurus Entries Near gaffe
Cite this Entry
“Gaffe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffe. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
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