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
Example Sentences
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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
-
Signs include panting, a hoarse bark, scuffing or dragging their toes along the ground, and sometimes regurgitation or swallowing problems.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
-
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
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
-
The tail end of the aforementioned second act does address some of the novel’s darkness with an abrupt tonal shift that left Tuesday’s audience gasping in horror, rather than glee.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
3 June 2026
-
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who caught a fourth quarter touchdown from Drake Maye in the Super Bowl, suffered an injury scare during the softball game hosted by Maye when comedian Matt Rife rolled up on Stevenson's leg during a rundown that had Patriots fans gasping for air.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 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
-
On Election Day on May 26, as results were coming in, Burrows posted to social media congratulating Paxton on his win — 30 minutes before the Associated Press called the race for Paxton.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
When Fey, 56, appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday, June 1, Fallon, 51, started by congratulating her on her upcoming wedding anniversary on Wednesday, June 3.—
Clare Fisher,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
To heat, microwave in short intervals, massaging the rice around in between.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
18 May 2026
-
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
-
Western, for his part, had by this time recovered something of his usual bluster, and began again upon the subject of Blifil, commending his estate and his family with great earnestness, as though these considerations alone ought to have settled the matter long since.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
2 June 2026
-
Kennedy then mentioned her daughter and became emotional while commending her work.—
Marina Watts,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffing. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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