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

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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 puff
Noun
When the Devil himself appeared, in a puff of smoke, the town-house alarm went off and the play paused. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026 Along the banks of the Huangpu River in Shanghai, a sweeping spiral staircase winds along the side of a white building, flowing upward toward the roof like a puff of smoke hanging in the air. — Wendy Wang, Architectural Digest, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
If that doesn’t work, the porcupine will puff up, turn around, and wave its quills in a predator’s face. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026 Hutch sat with his back against the palm, eyes puffed and closed. — Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 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
  • The structures are wood, often colorful but always fragile, with large verandas designed to catch and route cooling breezes through the home.
    — Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The long school holiday was coming to an end, and though the sunlight still offered the brightness of summer, the breeze that blew suggested the sombre quality of autumn.
    — Yasushi Inoue, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of breeze
Verb
  • According to the arrest warrant, state police believe Ringquist first became separated from the truck on Polly Dan Road, where she was knocked to the ground and left gasping for air and sobbing.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
  • They were gassed, players gasping with the exertion of trying to run the Knicks out of their gym.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of gasp
Verb
  • White stroked a 3-pointer and waved his arms over his head to the crowd.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The young woman on the left strokes her hair and tells her not to be nervous.
    — Anna Griffin, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of stroke
Noun
  • In a trial of 36 adults with above-normal systolic pressure, those who took 30 resisted breaths a day, six days a week, had a roughly 9 mm Hg drop in resting systolic pressure after six weeks.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The human characters were about to be subjected to the concussive explosion of Godzilla’s fiery breath—the actors had to play out the effects of the blast, which would later be added digitally, along with Godzilla himself.
    — Matt Alt, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of breath
Verb
  • As Europe panted through rolling heatwaves this summer, I became drawn in by The Perfect Prescription anew.
    — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
  • These Stelle pants in particular, are every bit as stretchy and cooling as your go-to wide-leg pants, thanks to the moisture-wicking fabric that keeps you sweat-free.
    — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 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 light-reflecting complex immediately illuminates to wake up tired eyes as the special cooling metal applicator helps massage away puffiness.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The brand recommends using it morning and night by massaging it in upward strokes over the face and neck to maximize the benefits.
    — Ali Faccenda, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2026
Definition of massage
Verb
  • Don’t ‘Bless Texas’ Killing Machine’ In his November 4 letter, Hood began by congratulating Hinojosa on her historic victory.
    — Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Instead, the union congratulated the mayor-elect and said its president, Ricky Mendoza, had reached out to establish a dialogue with her.
    — Teresa Liu, Daily News, 7 Nov. 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 14 Nov. 2026.

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