1
as in mistake
a socially improper or unsuitable act or remark
you can expect to make some amusing gaffs until you get more familiar with the language
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in blunder
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy
double-check the new writer's grammar, as it's typically riddled with gaffs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to trick
to cause to believe what is untrue
a sleazy schemer who gaffed gullible people into thinking they could get rich with a money-making opportunity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cheat
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
the operators of the traveling carnival had gaffed patrons with a variety of time-honored ruses
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples Sentences
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 gaff
Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024
Monday, the frontman, 73, recalled the gaff, explaining that he was sent a tune written by the legendary folk-rock singer during the heyday of Lewis' band, Huey Lewis and the News, but never acted on it.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024
But, despite those gaffs, robotics firms pressed on and now several believe their walking machines could work alongside human manufacturing workers in only a few short years.
—Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024
That starts with careful gaff placement to avoid ruining meat.
—Tom Fowlks, Outdoor Life, 1 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gaff 
Noun
Here are its scariest safety scandals Some fliers are thinking twice as scandals and gaffs pile up
Start Slideshow
The world got an uncomfortable reminder about the need to scrutinize air travel last January when a door plug blew off an Alaska Airlines flight 16,000 feet over Portland, Oregon.
—Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024
Monday, the frontman, 73, recalled the gaff, explaining that he was sent a tune written by the legendary folk-rock singer during the heyday of Lewis' band, Huey Lewis and the News, but never acted on it.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024
But, despite those gaffs, robotics firms pressed on and now several believe their walking machines could work alongside human manufacturing workers in only a few short years.
—Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024
That starts with careful gaff placement to avoid ruining meat.
—Tom Fowlks, Outdoor Life, 1 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gaff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaff
Noun
-
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
-
Surprisingly, Danni doesn’t see it as a mistake and would kiss him again.Emma Soren, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
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
-
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
Verb
-
The tools take advantage of Generative adversarial networks, which, in essence, try to trick the AI algorithm with incorrect (i.e., adversarial) data.PCMAG, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
-
The stunning corruption scheme finally came to an end in September 2013, when authorities tricked his NCIS mole into thinking the most serious investigations had been closed and then invited Francis to San Diego for a meeting with Navy officials.Alex Riggins, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The post comes as Trump has for days basely accused the key battleground state of cheating.Luke Barr, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2024
-
The activation comes amid a particularly tense election year, with former President Trump, the Republican nominee, already claiming that Democrats are cheating.Brad Dress, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
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
-
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
Verb
-
Your partner is either fooling himself or attempting to fool you.R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
-
Fischer, who played the paper company's receptionist Pam (until she was promoted), explained that creator Greg Daniels even filmed a fake version of the episode to fool them.Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
Since the stinging defeat in the courts, at which details emerged of government security forces downplaying the Bundys’ legitimate concern for their own safety when federal sniper units encircled the family, Washington and its agencies let the Bundys graze at will and without charge.Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024
-
Perhaps cricket can stomach that axing, but potentially not being part of the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, will sting.Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Noun
-
Trump, Vance's running mate, has taken full advantage of Biden's gaffe, arguing that the moment reveals Democrats' true thoughts about half of America.Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 4 Nov. 2024
-
Harris' camp has echoed her closing message of unity while still going on offense to capitalize on Trump's recent controversies and gaffes.Axios, Axios, 3 Nov. 2024
Articles Related to gaff
Thesaurus Entries Near gaff
Cite this Entry
“Gaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaff. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share