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
While the egg-and-cheddar batter puffs in a skillet, a crazy-quilt of veggies roasts separately. — Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 21 Oct. 2026 Oreo first announced the launch of Oreo Puffs, a new spin on Oreo cereal featuring crunchy and chocolatey puffs with mini marshmallows, in December 2024. — Erin Clements, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
As his players doused each other with beer and puffed smoke throughout the room, Venable said neither cigars nor champagne are quite his style. — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026 Cuoco wore a baby pink gown with a delicate embellished neckline, puff sleeves and a flowing, pleated skirt that beautifully draped over her baby bump, further detailed with slight cutouts on the sides. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 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 shot fades into a close-up of Liam, his perfect coif billowing in the ocean breeze.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Areas away from Chesapeake Bay have enjoyed abundant sunshine Thursday with a refreshing breeze and highs around 70°.
    — Steven Sosna, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of breeze
Verb
  • Advertisement Tell your doctor about the pauses, gasping, and any daytime sleepiness.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Abrams does yeoman’s work with a character stuck in a tight spot for most of the running time, constantly grunting and gasping with a mixture of anguish and exhaustion as his body gets progressively more beat up and broken.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 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
  • Meanwhile, Perry and Robert are figuring the logistics of end-of-life care in real time straight through to their charge’s final breath.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Doctors detected abnormal breath sounds, and a scan revealed a round blotch in his right lung—a sign of blood, pus, fluid or tissue—but tests for common pathogens came back negative.
    — Rachel Melegrito, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 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
  • Like some of the music, the album artwork also pays homage to the animal world and our interconnectedness—the abstract piece offers a single line drawing that weaves in outlines of a panting dog, screeching cat, stoic bunny, and wise owl.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 28 Sep. 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
  • Less muscle on the left leg might benefit from an extra TRX session, limited shoulder mobility could take a traditional lomi 'a’e massage.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Luzon layered her signature 24-karat gold mask over a professional-use DNA mask, massaging the treatment to enhance absorption.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of massage
Verb
  • Leaders from across Latin America largely congratulated Lula's historic win.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The president of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre, and the the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Hugo Motta—both from center-right parties—congratulated Lula and declared the election valid.
    — Chiara Pizzimenti, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 2026.

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