1
as in panting
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty
he came running up the stairs puffing and wheezing
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in stroking
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
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Recent Examples of puffing
Meanwhile, Spurs, under their third manager of the season, were huffing and puffing in their attempts to blow Wolves’ defence down.
—
Matt Slater, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
In the mid-2000s, after getting the worst of it during a few hurricanes, the external panels had to be replaced, but they were faithfully reproduced down to the bull’s steam-puffing nostrils.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026
Hilton asked the same cigar-puffing audience Friday moments after Bianco spoke.
—Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Apr. 2026
Some people still try to breathe through their mouth during sleep, a phenomenon called 'mouth puffing.
—Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 9 Apr. 2026
By my bedroom window, the radiator was puffing hot air.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
In the images, Shatner could be seen puffing on a cigar and smiling in front of a sunset.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
Either way, the fat can get a smidge warm after rolling the pastry out, which will prevent it from puffing as much as possible when baked.
—Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
There’s head coach Reid kissing the Super Bowl trophy, quarterback Mahomes throwing a pass while horizontal in midair and Hall of Fame QB Len Dawson puffing on a cigarette in an image football fans know well.
—Lisa Gutierrez
march 20, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2026
Matt Slater, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
In the mid-2000s, after getting the worst of it during a few hurricanes, the external panels had to be replaced, but they were faithfully reproduced down to the bull’s steam-puffing nostrils.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026
Hilton asked the same cigar-puffing audience Friday moments after Bianco spoke.
—Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Apr. 2026
Some people still try to breathe through their mouth during sleep, a phenomenon called 'mouth puffing.
—Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 9 Apr. 2026
By my bedroom window, the radiator was puffing hot air.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
In the images, Shatner could be seen puffing on a cigar and smiling in front of a sunset.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
Either way, the fat can get a smidge warm after rolling the pastry out, which will prevent it from puffing as much as possible when baked.
—Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Mar. 2026
There’s head coach Reid kissing the Super Bowl trophy, quarterback Mahomes throwing a pass while horizontal in midair and Hall of Fame QB Len Dawson puffing on a cigarette in an image football fans know well.
—Lisa Gutierrez
march 20, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffing
Verb
-
Peter waltzes through an indistinguishable parade of such parties, high as a kite on some drug or another, at one point getting pulled into a panting threesome with another guy and handsy British tourist Leonora (Paris Petitjean).—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
16 May 2026
-
The window next to my desk overlooks the gym’s large communal exercise room, and throughout the day, I am taunted by the sight of gyrating bodies panting through a Zumba class or a kettlebell set.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
There was only one other visitor, another mother stroking another small head.—
Fran Moreland Johns,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
-
Alongside Cruise feeding and stroking his dying cat while walking around his mansion with his gut hanging out, there are shots of planes readying for battle and collapsing polar ice caps.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Cut taxes and/or cut state payroll, or wait until the next report finds yet more residents leaving the state, taking their revenue with them, and a state budget gasping for air.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
26 May 2026
-
Within minutes, revellers were gasping for breath; their nostrils quivered, their lips turned blue.—
Taran Dugal,
New Yorker,
23 May 2026
Verb
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For seven minutes after the final whistle, players and staff stood on the edge of the penalty area applauding the Liverpool supporters amassed in the Bill Shankly Kop as the Jota song remained on loop.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
That is worth acknowledging and applauding.—
Jonathan Greenblatt,
Sun Sentinel,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Facebook ads vilifying or praising various measures.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
-
In a post on X on May 29, Shriver marked what would have been Kennedy's 109th birthday by praising the court's ruling against efforts to rename the cultural institution.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Patrick Mahomes has a share in the Kansas City Royals and tweeted a video of Kelce's first pitch in congratulating him.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
-
Patrick Mahomes has a share in the Kansas City Royals and tweeted a video of Kelce’s first pitch in congratulating him.—
Joe Reedy,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
To heat, microwave in short intervals, massaging the rice around in between.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
18 May 2026
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In October 2018, a student told her school counselor and then Hiner that Agan had come up behind her and started massaging her neck beneath her long hair.—
Holly McDede,
ProPublica,
12 May 2026
Verb
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With commencement season rapidly coming to a close, on Saturday, Sonoma State University was commending its graduates on their resilience.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
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On March 24, the court passed a resolution recognizing and commending the Turning Point Academy of Granbury, a religious school set to open in the fall that is connected to the conservative Turning Point USA movement.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffing. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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