SHAFT Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

shaft

noun

ˈshaft

Definition of shaft

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 shaft The first tomb features a square shaft about 10 feet deep leading to two burial chambers. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 13 Aug. 2026 At its center was a boxy concrete tower—a mine shaft that would carry us nearly two miles down into the earth. — James Dinneen, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026 This will help to smooth cuticles and prevent splits from continuing higher up the hair shaft. — Nicole Catanese, InStyle, 12 Aug. 2026 Grapeseed oil deeply hydrates hair by penetrating all layers of the hair shaft, leaving it moisturized from the inside out. — Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shaft

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaft

Noun

Alexander Bazilevsky, a BNL physicist, and electromagnetic calorimetry manager for the ePIC detector, stated that the calorimeter will primarily measure electrons scattered by the beam.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
Laser ablation, which aims a focused beam at cells, accounted for about 45% of procedures.

— Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of beam

Noun

In Kris’ case, that obsession was with Camp Miasma, its tortured villain Little Death, and the oversexualized victims who ended up on the other end of Little Death’s spear, terrible sequel after terrible sequel.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026
The Oakland Police Department on Thursday released a compilation video of officer body camera footage of the fatal shooting last month of a man wielding two homemade spear-like devices at officers.

— Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of spear

Noun

There are some crazy laser rays, goofy wipe transitions, robots who are menaces to society, to be sure.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026
Essentially, hackers disguise malware as ripped Blu-ray releases or other legitimate video versions of the movie, and once downloaded, users get infected.

— Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of ray

Noun

The feeling came again when Wright, who played hockey, netball, tennis and javelin at county level in her teens, turned her hand to rugby.

— Paul Newman, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
One of the most memorable is witnessing the Maasai Games, where warriors compete in events such as sprinting, javelin throwing, high jump, and rungu throwing.

— Nicola Shepherd, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of javelin

Noun

Additionally, objects of cultural patrimony such as five pairs of moccasins, one coupstick, one Cheyenne cradle board and one lance were returned in the ceremony.

— News Desk, Artforum, 20 Aug. 2026
As for the Speed, the museum returned three ceremonial objects (a rattle, a beaded pipe bag, and a beaded turtle amulet) and 21 other items, among them beaded pouches and bags, moccasins, a coup stick, a cradleboard, and a lance.

— Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of lance

Noun

Investigators said one of the victims was taken to an area hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, while the other four were treated at the scene for injuries that were also non-life-threatening.

— Richard Ramos, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
The victim was taken to a medical facility by a family member, where he was treated for injuries to his arm and foot, wildlife officials said.

— Jon Haworth, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of injury

Browse Nearby Words

shady

shaft

shafts

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Shaft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaft. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of shaft

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on shaft

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

expeditious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes