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
Instead, press the powder into the back of your hand first, then tap the puff lightly onto your skin. — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 15 Aug. 2026 The full look featured a puff-sleeve blouse with a button-up front and intricate lace collar, matching shorts, and retro cat-eye sunglasses in white à la Betty Draper. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
Throughout Thursday’s ruling, Judge Bryan Biedscheid compared Meta and its suite of apps to a factory — and its harm to puffing toxins into the air. — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 Everybody gets a chance to bicker and puff their chest or almost get in a fight with somebody else in the room and reacquaint themselves with the audience. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 2 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
  • Others are content simply to provoke a few smiles, before dissipating like smoke with the very next breeze.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Massages can be arranged on your private terrace, and the breeze really adds a flair to what is already a restorative experience.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of breeze
Verb
  • Extreme mountain climbing has never looked anything but miserable from the distance of a screening room, and The Other Side delivers mightily on all that scraping, straining, gasping toil.
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The power outages caused by storms that roared through the region nearly two weeks ago have one resident of this Rust Belt city literally gasping for air.
    — Selina Guevara, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of gasp
Verb
  • But Kim stroked a walk-off single into left field in the ninth inning off Dodgers reliever Tanner Scott to give the Atlanta Braves a 6-5 victory over the Dodgers on Wednesday night.
    — Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Afterwards, as Cheogyal puts it, the spiritual leader stroked his head with compassion.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of stroke
Noun
  • Ratledge is looking like an ascending player in his second year, mentioned in the same breath as core players by coach Dan Campbell.
    — Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Their disparate worldviews come to bear on an outcome that will leave readers holding their breath in anticipation.
    — Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of breath
Verb
  • 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
  • The delivery person added that none of the canines appeared to have access to food or sufficient water, and that all the animals were panting.
    — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 3 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
  • These included cleaning, caring for Chong’s children and massaging his feet without pay, 7NEWS reported.
    — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The 24-time Grand Slam champion appeared to suffer a cramp in his left foot, threw up, and took a medical time-out to have his back massaged between the fourth and fifth sets before losing to Argentine player Mariano Navone.
    — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of massage
Verb
  • The leaders of right-wing populist parties in Spain and Portugal also congratulated AfD, German news agency dpa reported.
    — Kirsten Grieshaber, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Christian Democrat candidate Sven Schulze took to the stage on Sunday evening to congratulate the AfD on its win.
    — Esme Nicholson, NPR, 6 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 11 Sep. 2026.

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