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
1
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
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Recent Examples of puff
Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 7 Mar. 2025
When The Void persona emerges, all hell and darkness break loose as this sinister silhouette is able to disintegrate anything into a shadowy puff simply by raising his hand.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
The guests rejoice, drinks in hand, while puffing on cigarettes.
—Viren Naidu, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for puff
Noun
No air will shoot out of the valve, although the pump hose itself will give a little puff.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 7 Mar. 2025
When The Void persona emerges, all hell and darkness break loose as this sinister silhouette is able to disintegrate anything into a shadowy puff simply by raising his hand.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
Signs that a chicken is broody include persistent nesting; puffed feathers and protective behavior; clucking or vocalizations, especially when approached near the nesting area; and reluctance to leave the nest.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
The guests rejoice, drinks in hand, while puffing on cigarettes.
—Viren Naidu, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for puff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puff
Noun
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Sand, breeze blocks, storm shutters—these are materials of survival and exclusion, shaped by the hurricanes that regularly devastate her homeland.—
Nargess Banks,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
-
The 120-acre estate is situated in the Stags Leap District on the southeastern side of Napa Valley, which receives cooling evening breezes from nearby San Pablo Bay.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
25 May 2025
Verb
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For anyone who’s ever been on a ventilator, death by suffocation is a paralyzing terror and Carson wholly sells this nightmare, painfully gasping for air and gurgling horribly as his nurse call button slips out of reach.—
Gayle Sequeira,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
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Art flop: When a bronze head by the master sculptor Alberto Giacometti failed to sell at Sotheby’s auction, the audience gasped.—
German Lopez,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Interacting with a pet, such as stroking them, can ease the mind and boost the sense of tranquility.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 May 2025
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His purpose is solely to stroke his outsized, narcissistic ego to compete with other authoritarian countries such as Russia and North Korea.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
12 May 2025
Noun
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After Annie shows up on his porch, Jon ushers the nineteen-year-old inside, and the audience sucks in its breath.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
22 May 2025
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Who’d have thought everyone would be waiting, breath bated, for the rerelease of an album that came out nine years ago to middling reviews?—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
22 May 2025
Verb
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By halftime, Luka was panting like an old dog in August.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2025
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Wallen has abandoned the panting rasp of his mid-twenties, and now performs with force and depth.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
16 May 2025
Verb
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Those harmonies — simultaneously honeyed and gravelly, providing just enough support without overshadowing, yet so powerful and full of potential — echoes Whitten.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
2 July 2024
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Enjoy flavored nuts, such as those that are candied, glazed, or honied, in moderation.—
Selene Yeager,
Health,
24 Feb. 2024
Verb
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But can putting castor oil in the belly button and massaging the area help with digestive issues as well?—
Justin Laube,
EverydayHealth.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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Spend 30 to 60 seconds rolling or massaging each region in and around the hips — glutes, outer thighs, inner thighs, quads (front, top of leg) and hamstrings (back, top of leg) — before stretching or mobility exercises.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The Redditor said that her mother-in-law started tearing up and her boss stood up to congratulate them.—
Sabrina Weiss,
People.com,
19 May 2025
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An array of European leaders congratulated Dan on his victory, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, Poland’s Donald Tusk and Moldova’s Maia Sandu.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puff. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
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