SHAFT Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

shaft

noun

ˈshaft

as in beam

a narrow sharply defined line of light radiating from an object shafts of late-afternoon sunlight pierced the blinds and streaked the floor

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as in spear

a weapon with a long straight handle and sharp head or blade the footmen set their shafts so as to form a bank of steel against the enemy's charging cavalry

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as in injustice

unfair or inadequate treatment of someone or something or an instance of this the homeowners who were bought out are convinced they got the shaft in that deal

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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 shaft Unlike other methods for sinking deep shafts, Gangtie Jiliang is built specifically to tackle hard rock. —

Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026 In scalp hair follicles, the anagen phase can persist for several years, allowing continuous elongation of the hair shaft before the follicle transitions to catagen and telogen. —

Kara Rogers, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Apr. 2026 Types of lacrosse sticks The most important thing to know about buying the best lacrosse sticks is that there are different head shapes, pocket sizes, meshing techniques and shaft lengths required for different positions. —

Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026 Upgrades will require significant reinforcement of some walls and elevator shafts, though engineers have found ways to do the work by pouring new concrete footings and installing additional steel bracing without significantly impinging on internal spaces or being visible on exterior surfaces. —

Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shaft

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaft

Noun

The cost of the six-story hotel with its Spanish Colonial Revival architecture came in at nearly $1 million, or more than $18 million in today’s money, and featured marble floors, private baths, steel beams, and an electric elevator.

— Susan B. Barnes, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
Puryear has created an outdoor sculpture to honor the late civil rights activist and congressman John Lewis via Bending the Arc, a 34-foot-long beam that Puryear hand-carved in wood and then was 3D-scanned and fabricated in stainless steel.

— Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 10 Apr. 2026