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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example 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 faux pas
Despite his farting faux pas, Jason recently told PEOPLE that the couple’s daughters enjoy their own time in the ice rink.
—
Rachel McRady, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025
Stick to the Dress Code Run your outfit past the bride and groom to avoid any fashion faux pas.
—Marisa Polansky and Kristine Keller, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024
In other findings culled from The Harris Poll, shoppers were asked to rank their top holiday faux pas.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 4 Dec. 2024
Newsweek asked some of America's top etiquette experts: What is the biggest faux pas a Thanksgiving guest can commit?
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for faux pas
Rachel McRady, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025
Stick to the Dress Code Run your outfit past the bride and groom to avoid any fashion faux pas.
—Marisa Polansky and Kristine Keller, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024
In other findings culled from The Harris Poll, shoppers were asked to rank their top holiday faux pas.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 4 Dec. 2024
Newsweek asked some of America's top etiquette experts: What is the biggest faux pas a Thanksgiving guest can commit?
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for faux pas
Recent Examples of Synonyms for faux pas
Noun
-
This makes people more forgiving when leaders make mistakes.—
Tendayi Viki,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Piastri, who made a mistake that cost him the win at the Australian GP last week, capitalized on clean air in Shanghai to steadily build his advantage as the race evolved into a strategic battle between one and two-stop strategies.—
Luke Smith,
The Athletic,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The blunder occurred while Trump, 78, was speaking with reporters at Joint Base Andrews military facility in Maryland after giving a speech at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 14.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
15 Mar. 2025
-
The longer-term question is how much more patience and grace Trump’s base will grant Bondi, who already bears scars as the central figure in arguably the administration’s earliest blunder.—
David Catanese,
Miami Herald,
14 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The lawsuit claims medical errors happened during the procedure, which led to the bowel perforation.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2025
-
All the results were just outside margins of error.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Faux pas.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/faux%20pas. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share