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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in worthless
having no usefulness
a decidedly chaffy book that is basically a collection of old interviews with celebrities
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
-
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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Speaking to Variety from his home in the mountains of Idaho, Glenn jokes about the world-spanning nature of the nomination.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
18 Aug. 2025
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She’s been booed in stadiums, joked at by mainstream media, and roasted online to the extent that both the NFL and high-profile players have publicly defended her right to attend.—
Gemma Allen,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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That support helped plenty, but would have been worthless without serious drive and hard work, as well as Navarro’s two years at the University of Virginia.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
24 Aug. 2025
-
Anything less than a total social reckoning—a complete psychological makeover of white America—was worthless.—
Book Marks
August 21,
Literary Hub,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
And the creators aren't kidding about the show's sci-fi elements.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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There’s also never really a good explanation for why the population of campers has dwindled, beyond Charlie Brown telling Sally that kids her age just want to watch TV instead of heading outdoors for fun.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Folks fill empty totes and baskets with loaves of the traditional bread ($15), and for good reason.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
24 Aug. 2025
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This can also be an issue for heirs who may have to empty pre-tax accounts and boost their adjusted gross income during their peak earning years, experts say.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,
CNBC,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Babe’s brines and smokes Duroc ham and roasts the pork with Italian seasoning and onions.—
Carlos Frías,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
19 Aug. 2025
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Extreme heat has roasted tourists across southern Europe from Spain and France to Italy and the Balkans in recent years, but the unusually high temperatures spread way north this summer.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The set also comes with two matching pillow shams, and it’s been awarded nearly 2,000 perfect five-star ratings from happy customers—many of whom say not to be fooled by the low price.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Aug. 2025
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Don’t be fooled: With the latest shtick of sending U.S. National Guard troops into the Washington, D.C., area, these are attempts to normalize military assets on our streets.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaff. Accessed 29 Aug. 2025.
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