1
as in blunders
a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark
committed a huge gaffe when she started drinking from the finger bowl
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mistakes
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
so-called debates, which seemed to be mainly about seeing which candidate made the most gaffes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of gaffes
Moody’s final gaffes — a 27-yard try off the left upright a minute before halftime, a 36-yarder blocked in the third quarter — carried over bad mojo that has followed him since the end of his rookie season.
—
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
In its 10-episode first season, the show could use a little more heart and soul behind its high jinks and gaffes.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
In a 5-4 loss to the Washington Nationals, the Mets didn’t blow any leads, there were no defensive gaffes and the lineup made life tough on right-hander Brad Lord.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Instead, the show tends to replay these gaffes without adding much new perspective.
—Judy Berman, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
Twists and gaffes happening at the tail end of a race—for which this year’s voting round ended on Tuesday—are nothing new.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2025
Journalists and news organizations told the tech giant about a number of gaffes.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2025
And those gaffes are pointed out in front of the whole team, even if they are committed by esteemed leaders.
—Mike Jones, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
And the Wildcats scored 19 points off of those errors, dwarfing the seven points the Terps converted from Northwestern’s 13 gaffes.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 17 Jan. 2025
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
In its 10-episode first season, the show could use a little more heart and soul behind its high jinks and gaffes.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
In a 5-4 loss to the Washington Nationals, the Mets didn’t blow any leads, there were no defensive gaffes and the lineup made life tough on right-hander Brad Lord.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Instead, the show tends to replay these gaffes without adding much new perspective.
—Judy Berman, Time, 20 Aug. 2025
Twists and gaffes happening at the tail end of a race—for which this year’s voting round ended on Tuesday—are nothing new.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2025
Journalists and news organizations told the tech giant about a number of gaffes.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2025
And those gaffes are pointed out in front of the whole team, even if they are committed by esteemed leaders.
—Mike Jones, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
And the Wildcats scored 19 points off of those errors, dwarfing the seven points the Terps converted from Northwestern’s 13 gaffes.
—Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 17 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffes
Noun
-
Tropicana remains a business school case study on redesign blunders.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
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Arizona would have run Kansas State off the field Friday night but for a series of blunders.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Rinzel has already been hit up by some of the other prospects for his perspective on rookie camp, on the climb to the NHL and the developmental process, on how to play with aggression and the confidence to make plays rather than with hesitation and the fear of making mistakes.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
If the Wildcats cut back on their mistakes.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Red Sox committed three errors, including two by second baseman David Hamilton.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
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The Cordell report has since been discredited — missing transcripts, factual errors and even confusion of key witnesses.—
Matthew J. Frauenfeld,
Mercury News,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Both their indiscretions seem to be a thing of the past, if King Charles’s actions are to be believed.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gaffes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffes. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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