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
At this point, failing to wear a mask when engaging in lawless activity is a major faux pas.
—
Rich Lowry, National Review, 17 June 2025
Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images This isn't the first time And Just Like That... has been called out over a continuity error or filming faux pas.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
What to Do Before an Estate Sale Familiarize Yourself with the Rules
Sometimes, a little research ahead of time can save you from an embarrassing—and likely unintentional—etiquette faux pas.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
The two tell me with mirth and kindness that the question is quite a faux pas.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for faux pas
Rich Lowry, National Review, 17 June 2025
Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images This isn't the first time And Just Like That... has been called out over a continuity error or filming faux pas.
—Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 July 2025
What to Do Before an Estate Sale Familiarize Yourself with the Rules
Sometimes, a little research ahead of time can save you from an embarrassing—and likely unintentional—etiquette faux pas.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 5 July 2025
The two tell me with mirth and kindness that the question is quite a faux pas.
—Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for faux pas
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faux pas
Noun
-
Chisholm getting thrown out on the bases might be the most egregious of the team’s mental mistakes this season.—
Chris Kirschner,
New York Times,
2 Aug. 2025
-
In the annals of American mistakes, his two election victories will be recorded as the most damaging.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Its acquisitions in consumer banking were at worst blunders and at best decent deals struck in pursuit of a doomed strategy.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
21 July 2025
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Consider how McDonald's had to end an experiment with AI drive-thru ordering due to blunders that led to customer frustration and viral videos on social media.—
Rishi Kumar,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
Noun
-
Pilot error caused the crash, according to a final report from the National Transportation Safety Board.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
-
Without a robust knowledge foundation, these early wins can mask serious risks—from compliance breaches to costly decision errors.—
Stéphane Donzé,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Faux pas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faux%20pas. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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