fluff 1 of 2

noun

ˈfləf How to pronounce fluff (audio)
Definition of fluffnext
1
as in fur
a soft airy substance or covering self-consciously picked the fluff off his sweater as he answered the officer's questions

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2
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy the flustered newscaster's fluffs included a mispronunciation of the town's name

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fluff

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to fumble
to make a mistake unnerved by her earlier missteps, the skater fluffed on the final jump as well

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2
as in to blow
to make or do (something) in a clumsy or unskillful way I completely fluffed the introduction by calling the boss's wife by the wrong name

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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 fluff
Noun
While opponents treated Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham like punching bags, White hid behind spineless PR fluff instead of defending her stars. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026 The fog rises from Mount Tamalpais like a spirit, slowly billowing over spears of feathery redwoods and fluffs of fragrant bay laurels. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
After drying, fluff the pillow by breaking up remaining clumps by hand. — Colleen Sullivan, Martha Stewart, 22 Aug. 2026 Hen of the woods are said to resemble a chicken with its feathers fluffed up, hence the nickname. — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fluff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluff
  1. fur
  2. mistake
  3. fumble
  4. blow
  5. pile
  6. error
  7. stumble
  8. ruin
Noun
  • The Senate will soon weigh in on the latest Farm Bill, which now seeks to expand market opportunities for mink farmers by undoing a prohibition in federal law on subsidizing the fur trade.
    — Nat Lash, ProPublica, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Universal Standard’s holiday collection features eight styles, spanning tailoring, fluid cupro, vegan leather and faux fur.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of fur
Noun
  • And if so, did Democrats make a mistake by not investing earlier?
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Tampa Bay, which won the AL pennant by forcing opponents into mistakes, committed one error, made two other misplays that could have been charged as errors and had a runner thrown out at the plate.
    — Ronald Blum, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of mistake
Verb
  • On the first play of Rutgers' next drive, Surace was sacked at the Rutgers 8 and fumbled with Northwestern’s Jamaal Johnson recovering.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The Chiefs actually missed a 43-yard field goal that would have won the game in regulation — after Justin Houston forced Lamar Jackson to fumble — but won the game with a short kick in overtime.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of fumble
Verb
  • Stephen Curry scored 24 points, rookie Yaxel Lendeborg added 18 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in his home debut, but the Warriors blew it as Memphis capitalized with a 17-0 run.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Either way, that would widen the deficit and blow past the government's 5% GDP target.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of blow
Noun
  • Hours later, a group of rescuers in hard hats were using poles stripped from trees to poke at the huge pile of rubble.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • There was a basket with lemons, each one tied with red curling ribbon, fish spices stacked, the register with all the keys covered by a silicone hood, and a pile of newspapers next to a pile of wrapping sheets.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of pile
Noun
  • Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler lead Lakers past the Clippers in an error-prone game.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The two-point difference is within the poll’s margin of error.
    — Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of error
Verb
  • There was upset after upset, and a few teams were on the verge of stumbling as well.
    — David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Next week will bring major risks for a stock market that's trying to find its footing as the AI trade continues to stumble, with several megacap earnings, a Federal Reserve meeting and a key inflation report in store.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • Burdick seemed to have drawn directly from McCarthy’s experience, the hopelessness of fighting with his father over a world his father had already ruined, the surrender to indulgence and mindless violence because…why not?
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Each room is also outfitted with a Yale smart lock, which means there’s no room for that horrible feeling of losing a room key to ruin your vacation.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of ruin

Browse Nearby Words

flues
fluff
fluffed
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Cite this Entry

“Fluff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluff. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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