as in blunder
somewhat informal
a problem that makes a situation difficult or confusing
A major scheduling snafu led to two meetings starting at the same time.
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Recent Examples of snafu
Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed new rules that would require airlines to compensate passengers between $200 and $775 for significant flight delays and cancellations that are caused by something within the carrier’s control, like a technology snafu.
—
Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
After a snafu with our reservation that almost cost us our seating (more on that below), our hilarious and talented chef, Kristoffer, saved the day with his joke-cracking and cooking.
—Blane Bachelor, AFAR Media, 26 Dec. 2024
Most likely though, these are logistical snafus that contribute to you feeling a bit stuck, disempowered, or unsure of what to do.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Nov. 2024
Amazon made waves by declaring a full-time RTO initiative in September, only to delay it in December due to a snafu regarding a lack of office space.
—Serenity Gibbons, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for snafu
Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
After a snafu with our reservation that almost cost us our seating (more on that below), our hilarious and talented chef, Kristoffer, saved the day with his joke-cracking and cooking.
—Blane Bachelor, AFAR Media, 26 Dec. 2024
Most likely though, these are logistical snafus that contribute to you feeling a bit stuck, disempowered, or unsure of what to do.
—Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Nov. 2024
Amazon made waves by declaring a full-time RTO initiative in September, only to delay it in December due to a snafu regarding a lack of office space.
—Serenity Gibbons, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for snafu
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snafu
Noun
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The blunder occurred while Trump, 78, was speaking with reporters at Joint Base Andrews military facility in Maryland after giving a speech at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 14.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
15 Mar. 2025
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The longer-term question is how much more patience and grace Trump’s base will grant Bondi, who already bears scars as the central figure in arguably the administration’s earliest blunder.—
David Catanese,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
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This loss of institutional support could leave borrowers with nowhere to turn when servicers make mistakes or when questions arise about complex repayment programs.—
Shahar Ziv,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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Astonishingly, Donald Trump is on the verge of making the same mistake.—
Charles C. W. Cooke,
National Review,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Naturally, the usual delays, misunderstandings and errors in communication are all common when Mercury retrogrades, but when in a sign like Aries, these moments are more likely to be louder, bolder and triggering.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
15 Mar. 2025
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Except that is a simplification of what the original dialogue says, and a localization error with big consequences.—
Rafael Motamayor,
IndieWire,
15 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Snafu.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snafu. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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