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
Does anyone actually answer this question? Biggest Cannes faux pas?
Attempting to attend a film at the Palais wearing a sneaker shoe and/or a non-bow tie with your tux.
—
Kevin Cassidy, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
Stylist Law Roach has now addressed the white suits worn by both his biggest client, Zendaya, and actress Anna Sawai, as it is assumed showing up in the same ‘fit on fashion’s biggest night is a major faux pas.
—Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 14 May 2025
In January 2023, Dismukes appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers and spoke about his faux pas during his first SNL table read.
—Lia Beck, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Thoughtless faux pas can tarnish a good relationship.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for faux pas
Kevin Cassidy, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025
Stylist Law Roach has now addressed the white suits worn by both his biggest client, Zendaya, and actress Anna Sawai, as it is assumed showing up in the same ‘fit on fashion’s biggest night is a major faux pas.
—Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 14 May 2025
In January 2023, Dismukes appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers and spoke about his faux pas during his first SNL table read.
—Lia Beck, People.com, 15 Feb. 2025
Thoughtless faux pas can tarnish a good relationship.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for faux pas
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faux pas
Noun
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Scott, whose lone major was 12 years ago at the Masters, didn’t make a mistake since a soft bogey on the opening hole and looked far younger than his 44 years down the stretch with brilliant iron play and enough putts for a 67, leaving him one shot behind.—
Doug Ferguson,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2025
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Status threat, risk of irrelevance, and making mistakes are common barriers.—
Julie Kratz,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
Noun
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Other big moments in Trump’s presidency include the leak of U.S. military attack plans to Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg, what was widely considered to be the first major blunder of his second term.—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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By the 10th, all those blunders faded into the background of their third win in three tries since Posey’s shocking flurry of roster moves.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
6 June 2025
Noun
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The government has admitted in court that his deportation was an administrative error.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
7 June 2025
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At least some of the errors produced by his code can be traced to using older versions of OpenAI models available through the VA — models not capable of solving complex tasks, according to the experts consulted by ProPublica.—
Brandon Roberts,
ProPublica,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Faux pas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faux%20pas. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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