Meaning & use
peccadilloes
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“peccadilloes” is a form of “peccadillo”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounpluralformal
Small, forgivable faults or minor misdeeds, usually habits that others find slightly embarrassing.
Grammar: Plural of peccadillo: one peccadillo, several peccadilloes.
Patterns
- forgive someone's peccadilloes
- overlook someone's peccadilloes
The press wrote about the senator's peccadilloes, such as his habit of arriving late.
Her friends overlook her peccadilloes because she is so generous.
Every family has its own harmless peccadilloes.
Word forms
| singular | peccadillo |
|---|---|
| alternative plural | peccadillos |
Common combinations
- minor peccadilloes
- They treated his lateness as just one of many minor peccadilloes.
- forgive peccadilloes
- Voters were willing to forgive his peccadilloes.
- youthful peccadilloes
- He joked about his youthful peccadilloes.
- the peccadilloes of the rich
- The novel mocks the peccadilloes of the rich.
- overlook peccadilloes
- A good friend will overlook your peccadilloes.
Synonyms and how they differ
- foibles
- Foibles stress odd personality quirks, whereas peccadilloes suggest small wrongdoings.
- misdemeanors
- Misdemeanors can be legal offenses and are more serious than peccadilloes.
- slips
- Slips are one-time mistakes, while peccadilloes can be repeated habits.
- vices
- Vices are stronger moral failings, so peccadilloes are milder.
Opposites
Word family
- peccadillo noun
- singular form, a small fault
- peccant adjective
- sinning or guilty, a rare word
- impeccable adjective
- perfect and without fault
- impeccably adverb
- in a perfect, faultless way
Commonly confused: peccadilloes or impeccable? peccadilloes or peccadillo?
peccadilloes vs impeccable
Impeccable means without any fault, which is nearly the opposite of having peccadilloes.
peccadilloes vs peccadillo
Peccadillo is the singular; peccadilloes or peccadillos is the plural.
Practice
The biography forgave the painter's ___, such as borrowing money he never returned in a hurry.
Choose one answer.
Peccadilloes means small forgivable faults. Crimes are too serious, and masterpieces and traditions have unrelated meanings.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “peccadilloes”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.