GAFFE Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

gaffe

noun

ˈgaf

Definition of gaffe

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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 gaffe His gaffe was especially costly, because the team lost in 13 innings the night before and taxed its bullpen. — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Hilton, 48, made a name in the early 2000s publicizing and sometimes belittling celebrities who made public gaffes or otherwise found themselves in trouble with the law. — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for gaffe

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaffe

Noun

Boutique seasonal brand, made it to market, suggesting the blunder might be related to a need for more executives and other workers connected with and sensitive to needs and concerns of Black consumers.

— Cheryl V. Jackson, IndyStar, 27 Aug. 2026
From a 2026 lens, extending Braun while kicking Watson’s can down the road looks like an epic blunder that could cost the Nuggets another title in the Joker’s prime.

— Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of blunder

Noun

This tender novel of intimacy and its risks begins in Boston in 1969, as Eve, a dancer, commences an affair with a colleague—an indiscretion that spurs her husband, a journalist named Gabe, to cheat, too.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Remind him of his indiscretions and ask him to give you the respect to stay away for a while.

— Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of indiscretion

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gaff

gaffe

gaffed

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“Gaffe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaffe. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of gaffe

noun

Example Sentences

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