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
The tiered skirt is breezy, while the flowy puff sleeves offer plenty of airflow. — Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2026 Follow directions on your inhaler for how many puffs to take. — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Verb
Decapitated, the fairy of Smoking with Oneself (2021–26) puffs a cigarette from the gaping red maw of her throat. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 July 2026 But, alas, there are no other young male seals in the residential streets of Hobart to practice chest-puffing and sparring with. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 11 July 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
  • There’s a warm (sometimes, too warm) breeze in the air, the days stretch long into the evenings, and every landscape seems to burst with color—there’s simply no season quite like the summertime for a gathering.
    — Alexandra Ditch, Vogue, 20 July 2026
  • Lee builds a drone that simply lingers in the background, moving the way a morning breeze might, then plays against it.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 20 July 2026
Definition of breeze
Verb
  • Warning signs worth flagging to a doctor include loud snoring, gasping for air during sleep, severe daytime fatigue, persistent low mood, rapid heart rate and unexplained weight changes.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2026
  • Gauff and Muchová had the crowd gasping in the thick heat through the tiebreak, which produced some of the most electric shots of what had already been a tense match.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of gasp
Verb
  • Videos from Xinhua show the knobby-kneed newborn resting on straw, being stroked and examined by scientists in white coats.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • Leaders do not have the luxury of sitting in the corner contemplating their feelings or hoping someone will stroke their egos.
    — Chris Adams, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of stroke
Noun
  • The important part is elevating your heart rate and getting a little out of breath.
    — Jenessa Connor, Health, 21 July 2026
  • Living through the earthquakes felt like battling cancer and being struck by two cars in the same breath.
    — Rafael Osío Cabrices, Time, 20 July 2026
Definition of breath
Verb
  • Like Fritz said, Tiafoe snatched his NBA-style pants off in one motion.
    — Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • When panting alone cannot shed enough heat, dogs fall back on shade.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 2 July 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 seats feature heating, ventilation, and massaging capabilities up front, along with eight-way power adjustment and lumbar support.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 July 2026
  • Instead, an equipment staffer lugged a bag of balls into a side training room and was allotted an hour to massage the footballs to the preferred specifications.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of massage
Verb
  • Her mother in Kearney, Francesca Gambino Brown, congratulated her on social media last week as Brown prepares for the upcoming football season.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026
  • The sibling duo, locked in a hug, then headed up through the stands together as others congratulated Yamal on Spain’s win.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026
Definition of congratulate

Phrases Containing puff

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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 30 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of puff for Spanish Speakers

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