as in mistake
a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark
according to an oft-told story, the queen set a guest at ease about a faux pas by politely imitating it
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Recent Examples of faux pas
From skipping follow-ups to coming across as self-interested or inauthentic, networking faux pas can limit the potential of new connections leaders attempt to forge.
—
Expert Panel®, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
While color clashing is more of a trend than a faux pas (see: red and pink), figuring out which shades will complement your aesthetic is no small feat.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 18 Jan. 2024
While each European country is unique in its own way, there are a couple of universal faux pas to avoid making and being marked as a tourist.
—Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 12 Oct. 2024
The old-school faux pas of wearing brown and black at once goes to the wayside — particularly with the Coach Times Square Tabby Bag’s flash of gold hardware that ties into the jacket’s belt buckle.
—Claire Sullivan, WWD, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for faux pas 
Expert Panel®, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
While color clashing is more of a trend than a faux pas (see: red and pink), figuring out which shades will complement your aesthetic is no small feat.
—Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 18 Jan. 2024
While each European country is unique in its own way, there are a couple of universal faux pas to avoid making and being marked as a tourist.
—Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 12 Oct. 2024
The old-school faux pas of wearing brown and black at once goes to the wayside — particularly with the Coach Times Square Tabby Bag’s flash of gold hardware that ties into the jacket’s belt buckle.
—Claire Sullivan, WWD, 8 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for faux pas
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faux pas
Noun
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The Sharks scored first at Madison Square Garden but couldn’t overcome their mistakes in the latter half of the second, allowing three unanswered goals in less than five minutes in a frustrating 3-2 loss to the Rangers in the third game of a four-game road trip.Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
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As the holiday season approaches, Jordan is turning his mistake into positive action by using his newfound notoriety to help drive donations to the Rocky Hill Human Services Food Bank, his police department said on social media.Gabriella Rudy, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The blunder not only allowed a run to score, but extended an inning that would eventually see the Dodgers erase a 5-0 deficit.David Faris, Newsweek, 2 Nov. 2024
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The primary issues facing this company highlighted by Jana are capital misallocation, a series of operational blunders and corporate governance failings.Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
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There was also the larger error of anointing Harris without political competition — an insult to the democratic process that handed the nomination to a candidate who, as some of us warned at the time, was exceptionally weak.Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
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Recent polling from the Free Press had indicated that Harris appeared to have a slight, 3-percentage-point lead on Trump in Michigan, though that was within the poll's 4-percentage-point margin of error.Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near faux pas
Cite this Entry
“Faux pas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faux%20pas. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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