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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of gaff
Kerry Breen, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2025
Anglers need both an angling license and a recreational turtle license to harvest turtles using angling gear like hook and line, landing nets and gaff hooks.
—Kay Johnson, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Privacy and cybersecurity training are supposed to prevent costly and embarrassing employee gaffs.
—Abigail Dubiniecki, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
About two minutes before his gaff, Connor Bedard scored a power-play goal (Martin Pospíšil had committed a boarding major against Taylor Hall) to help the Hawks draw within 4-2.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gaff
Noun
Transport boxes, electronic scales and gaffs, sharp blades that can be attached to roosters' legs during fights, were found on the property, the news statement said.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2025
Anglers need both an angling license and a recreational turtle license to harvest turtles using angling gear like hook and line, landing nets and gaff hooks.
—Kay Johnson, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Privacy and cybersecurity training are supposed to prevent costly and embarrassing employee gaffs.
—Abigail Dubiniecki, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
About two minutes before his gaff, Connor Bedard scored a power-play goal (Martin Pospíšil had committed a boarding major against Taylor Hall) to help the Hawks draw within 4-2.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gaff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gaff
Noun
-
But Trump has seemed to suggest that the drone incident may have been a mistake.—
Michelle Stoddart,
ABC News,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Consumer Behavior Supports Continued Innovation One of leaders’ biggest mistakes during volatile periods is assuming all consumer behavior changes negatively.—
Talbott Roche,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Shrader missed badly from 60 yards but Tillman’s infraction gave the Colts another untimed down and Shrader nailed the do-over to give Indy its first 2-0 start since 2009 and send the Broncos home with big regrets over their blunder.—
Arnie Stapleton,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Pittsburgh Steelers kick returner Kaleb Johnson suffered an unfortunate blunder during the team’s game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday afternoon.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Still, Genians suspects the Kimsuky group was able to develop a workaround, also known as jailbreak, to trick ChatGPT into creating the IDs.—
Senior Reporter,
PC Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
-
But in reality, deepfakes are getting better and the threat industry has many years of experience in honing lures to trick people, playing on emotions and overcoming natural suspicions and objections.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Student use of artificial intelligence has become so prevalent, high school and college educators say, that to assign writing outside of the classroom is like asking students to cheat.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
-
There are things worse than cheating.—
Essence,
Essence,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Mets have minimal room for error.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
There is a notable chance that the code will have some number of errors.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Your press release isn’t fooling anyone.—
Roberta Matuson,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Replacing Nina with a woman who has the same initials as her is not going to fool us!—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The lakes froze thick enough to skate across, the air stung sharp in the lungs, and the game every boy seemed to dream about was hockey.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
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It’s revealed that Sklar was Lori’s inspiration as a child to become an artist, only to crush that spark a dozen or so years later with stinging cruelty.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Moody’s final gaffes — a 27-yard try off the left upright a minute before halftime, a 36-yarder blocked in the third quarter — carried over bad mojo that has followed him since the end of his rookie season.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
9 Sep. 2025
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The gaffe, and her sincere reaction, underlined her efforts at accessibility and connectivity, characteristics frequently absent at big-name shows.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gaff. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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