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
1
as in to tease
to make fun of in a good-natured way
chaffed her about the brightly colored shirt she had received as a gift
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 29 May 2025
The athlete’s ability to shut out the massive Derby chaff and focus on the job at hand is one of the three great pillars, along with athletic talent honed by careful conditioning, that makes a Derby runner.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
In French air force service, the Mirage 2000-5F flies with a combination of a Serval radar warning receiver, a Sabre jammer and an Eclair chaff and flare dispenser.
—David Axe, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
In French air force service, the Mirage 2000-5F flies with a combination of a Serval radar warning receiver, a Sabre jammer and an Eclair chaff and flare dispenser.
—David Axe, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chaff
Noun
In other words, nearly nine-tenths of all primetime impressions were chaff.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 29 May 2025
The athlete’s ability to shut out the massive Derby chaff and focus on the job at hand is one of the three great pillars, along with athletic talent honed by careful conditioning, that makes a Derby runner.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
In French air force service, the Mirage 2000-5F flies with a combination of a Serval radar warning receiver, a Sabre jammer and an Eclair chaff and flare dispenser.
—David Axe, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
In French air force service, the Mirage 2000-5F flies with a combination of a Serval radar warning receiver, a Sabre jammer and an Eclair chaff and flare dispenser.
—David Axe, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chaff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chaff
Verb
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And we have been teased and fooled before in the near-quarter century since that last crown in 2001.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
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The podcast is also what Swift used to announce her 12th studio album, after teasing details on social media and setting up a surprise countdown clock.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Notre Dame star Hannah Hidalgo was in attendance for the premiere, and Taurasi joked that the 20-year-old wouldn’t know how to watch film that wasn’t in high definition.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
5 Aug. 2025
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Wilson joked, posting a carousel of photos with Marcus and the band, on Instagram.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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More than a quarter of you will be engaging in some piracy this season, and all of your names and email addresses have been handed over to the authorities (kidding!).—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
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There’s a big gulf between pro marathoners and high-school track, of course—but don’t kid yourself that they’re not connected.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside Online,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Whether sliced into matchsticks and dipped into hummus, roasted to perfection, or shredded into an irresistible carrot cake, carrots are one of the most popular vegetables—and one of the most nutrient-dense, to boot.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Aug. 2025
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In Slow Tech, Ginn, one of the co-hosts, walks readers through dozens of projects featured on the shows, and a good many new ones: weaving baskets, making candles, roasting meat, extracting salt from seawater.—
Sophia Stewart,
The Atlantic,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But don’t be fooled by the red planet’s Venusian trance.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Wild horses often nap on the sand like beachgoers — but don’t be fooled.—
Evan Moore
August 4,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaff. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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