shaft

Definition of shaftnext
1
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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2
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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3
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 The Spectator Spat boots feature a cap toe, and the ankle shaft area is made from a delicate suede. Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 11 Jan. 2026 This trendy chocolate brown style has a sturdy rubber outsole, a 4-inch shaft, and a small platform base — so yes, these boots will take your outfits (and your height) to the next level. Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026 Jasko has built the elevator shaft for a third mid-rise apartment building downtown, the 100-unit The Strand. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 Jan. 2026 Shift and shaft The seven property tax proposals blessed by House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, are tied to increasing the homestead exemption (and lowering taxes) for homeowners. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shaft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaft
Noun
  • Make your vehicle visible to others both ahead of you and behind you by using your low-beam headlights since this means your taillights will also be on.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • To say that ranch is popular is an understatement because Americans love the tangy taste on everything from chips to pickle spears to shrimp.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Jan. 2026
  • Yiyoguaje sported a spectacular headdress of layered feathers that cascaded down his back, blue and pink, green and yellow, topped by three long macaw feathers standing up like spears.
    Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • And this love makes violence and injustice unacceptable.
    Bao Phi, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
  • This tragedy occurred a short distance from where George Floyd was unjustly killed — another painful reminder that injustice, excessive force and unequal accountability continue to plague our nation.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The citric acid helps break the bond between the stain and the fibers, the salt works as a gentle abrasive, and the ultraviolet rays of the sun and the mild bleaching action of the acid leave fabrics whiter and brighter.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Hospital records show he was given morphine for pain and that doctors ordered a dozen CT scans and X-rays, including of his neck, spine and head.
    Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The Tofinu took refuge in the lagoons along the Bight of Benin, a core area of the slave trade, venturing forth in canoes with harpoons, javelins, and swords to fight off raiders from powerful nearby kingdoms.
    Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
  • The tricky part is fitting hammer throw, javelin and discus into the equation.
    Liam Tharme, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Like Basterds, Django Unchained takes a darkly comedic approach to righting historical wrongs.
    Katie Rife, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Righting a couple of wrongs that everybody was talking about.
    D. Orlando Ledbetter, AJC.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The shooting spurts of goo, pus, and assorted bodily fluids are not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach, but for those who enjoy watching an expert pop pimples, lance boils, and generally improve the quality of her patients' lives, Dr. Pimple Popper is sure to deliver.
    Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
  • The nest hoards of bearded vultures in southern Spain, where the species is extinct, were found to harbor such human artifacts as a crossbow bolt, a slingshot, a wooden lance, and a shoe with an approximate age of 675 years.
    Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Lowe has missed time with oblique injuries each of the past two seasons.
    Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
  • Tucker was slowed by a pair of injuries in his lone season with the Cubs.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shaft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaft. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.

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