as in debris
discarded or useless material
there's a lot of chaff in this book, and the reader should be on the alert for it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in laugh
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks
I got no end of chaff about my accent when I was in the military
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to joke
to make jokes
a coworker who likes to chaff at others' expense, and this often results in hurt feelings
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of chaff
Alexandria Mitchem Hansen, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
In and Out points on your clip, useful for cutting out the chaff.
—PC Magazine, 15 Nov. 2025
For the rest of us, this is where the wheat and the chaff separate.
—Bo Howard, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Day 2 of school and the wheat’s already been separated from the chaff.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chaff
Noun
Archaeobotanists find various parts of plants, including seeds, chaff, fruit pits, nutshells and cobs.
—Alexandria Mitchem Hansen, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025
In and Out points on your clip, useful for cutting out the chaff.
—PC Magazine, 15 Nov. 2025
For the rest of us, this is where the wheat and the chaff separate.
—Bo Howard, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Day 2 of school and the wheat’s already been separated from the chaff.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chaff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chaff
Verb
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In August 2025, the company announced plans to enter the automotive sector and teased two concept cars that drew heavy comparisons to the Bugatti Chiron and Rolls-Royce Cullinan.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
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Also at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Cyrus teased a potential return to the beloved, wig-wearing character.—
Bailey Richards,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This one’s an instant compliment-magnet—I’m not joking.—
Eva Thomas,
InStyle,
28 Jan. 2026
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Kevin Stefanski walked into his introductory news conference Tuesday smiling, joking about the weather, and sounding exactly like a coach ready to get to work.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When Curt Cignetti was hired just more than two years ago, it was considered a smart move by the athletic department, but no one kidded themselves that Indiana was some sort of raucous fan sleeper cell just waiting to be activated.—
Will Leitch,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
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There’s an adults-only section and a large, warm pool that kids love.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Meal kits include s’mores fixings for roasting over the firepits.—
Jenny Willden,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Jan. 2026
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To make mornings simpler, cook the squash ahead — roasted, sautéed or even microwaved — and keep it on hand for a week of toast, wraps, salads and simple sides.—
Laura Mclively,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To fool us into doubting our most obvious conclusions about how this story will unfold.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
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Don’t be fooled by the small bowl either.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Chaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaff. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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