puff 1 of 2

noun

Definition of puffnext
as in breeze
a slight or gentle movement of air felt a puff of wind on his face

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

puff

2 of 2

verb

ˈpəf How to pronounce puff (audio)
1
as in to gasp
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty he came running up the stairs puffing and wheezing

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to stroke
to praise too much a talk show host who can be counted on to puff up the celebrities who readily consent to be interviewed

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 puff
Noun
Mamma’s chole, or chickpeas, become intensely infused, served with a golden puff of crispy poori bread, the recipe adapted from Sukhu Kalra’s mother, Virender Kaur. — Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 The resulting fire from the crash sent large puffs of black smoke into the air. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
Wind would blow the trees against the windows and the humidifier would puff and David would deteriorate in his little slice of existence, running out the clock there on the very edge of other people’s real lives. — Emma Cline, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026 The Emanuels created the second dress just in case something happened to Diana’s primary dress, which came complete with a 25-foot train, 10,000 pearls, antique lace, puff sleeves, and a ruffled V-neck. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for puff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puff
  1. breeze
  2. gasp
  3. stroke
  4. breath
  5. pant
  6. honey
  7. massage
  8. congratulate
Noun
  • Blue skies, cool breezes, and plenty of chirping birds are enveloping the comfy Pharmalot campus, which is cause to fire up the coffee kettle for yet another cup of stimulation.
    — Ed Silverman, STAT, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Clouds will gradually break for some sunshine with a light northwest breeze and highs in the low to mid-70s.
    — Bill Kelly, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of breeze
Verb
  • The restaurant next to the nearby police department is shuttered; the restaurant across the street from it is long dead, and the once-vibrant downtown — which generated revenue that benefited every neighborhood of the city — is gasping.
    — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Pauses in breathing, gasping or daytime fatigue point to sleep apnea and require professional medical evaluation.
    — Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of gasp
Verb
  • Charli even stroked the bathroom hand dryer — a clever reference to everybody’s favorite scene in Desperately Seeking Susan.
    — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Guests have reported footsteps in the attic, the feeling of someone stroking their face, a shower rode repeatedly flying off the wall and loud noises from outside the front door when no one is there.
    — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of stroke
Noun
  • Residents of the Pierre’s 77 apartments and the 400+ employees who’d lose their jobs in case of a sale will have to hold their breath.
    — Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026
  • In moments of high stress, pause and take a few intentional breaths before considering what is really driving your emotions.
    — Majd Al-Waheidi, NPR, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of breath
Verb
  • Personality pants The brand to know and love right now is Chan Luu.
    — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The Row Frima pants $3,150 Track Star The track jacket is my fall answer to fashion’s (and my personal) ongoing love affair with sport—styled with a touch of Saint Laurent and Celine polish for everyday or taken full pro athlete à la Balenciaga.
    — Minty Mellon, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of pant
Verb
  • The mouthfeel is thick, chewy, and honeyed, with a hint of marzipan.
    — Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2026
  • Her voice, languid and honeyed, can glide over sensual R&B, bouncing reggaetón, shimmering pop or nostalgic jazz.
    — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
Definition of honey
Verb
  • The 2027 Silverado gets a broader, more muscular face, a new grille and redesigned LED lighting, while the bodywork has been massaged to make the truck look even more substantial.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Just massage the oil into hair and then leave it in to work its magic.
    — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of massage
Verb
  • In between posts promoting her events, Campbell Ortiz frequently posted about her children, congratulating one daughter for graduating high school and wishing one son happy birthday and cheering on his basketball team.
    — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The veteran coach congratulated his team for the win and quickly pivoted to yelling about mental mistakes that kept Houston County in the game.
    — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of congratulate

Phrases Containing puff

Browse Nearby Words

puerility
puff
puff adder
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Cite this Entry

“Puff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puff. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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