Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

puff

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of puff

a slight or gentle movement of air

  • felt a puff of wind on his face
Synonyms of puff

air, breath, breeze, waft, zephyr
Words Related to puff

current, draft, whiff

sea breeze

blast, blow, flurry, gale, headwind, northeaster, norther, northwester, southeaster, southwester, tailwind, westerly, wind

squall, tempest, tornado, windstorm

airflow
Near Antonyms of puff

calm

puff

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of puff

1 to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty

  • he came running up the stairs puffing and wheezing
Synonyms of puff

blow, gasp, heave, hyperventilate, pant, wheeze
Words Related to puff

choke, gag, gulp, huff

asphyxiate, smother, stifle, strangle

snore, snuffle

exhale, expire
Phrases Synonymous with puff

be out of breath

2 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 of puff

adulate, belaud, blarney, butter up, flatter, hero-worship, honey, massage, overpraise, soft-soap, stroke
Words Related to puff

blandish, cajole, coax, sweet-talk, wheedle

fawn, kowtow, suck (up to), toady

idolize, worship

eulogize, extol (also extoll), laud, praise

applaud, commend, compliment

congratulate, felicitate

drool, gush, slaver, slobber

endear, ingratiate

court, romance, woo
Near Antonyms of puff

bad-mouth, belittle, decry, depreciate, disparage, put down

Learn More about puff

  1. See words that rhyme with puff Dictionary: Definition of puff Medical Dictionary: Definition of puff Spanish Central: Translation of puff Nglish: Translation of puff for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of puff for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up puff? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games