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
And more than anything, more than the animosity between the programs, more than the College Football Playoff impact, more than Notre Dame puffing its chest out as USC backed down, that familiarity was the real higher power at work.
—
Pete Sampson, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The president has increasingly embraced fake images and videos — some appearing to be AI-generated — to mock and taunt political rivals while also puffing up his image.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 4 Oct. 2025
The White House is puffing up its chest like an inevitable victor when the clock reaches Zero Hour.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
Designer Jean Paul Gaultier was sandwiched between Kate Moss and Catherine Deneuve, puffing on her vape.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
The original existentialists, all those lovely, gallant, puffing-their-ciggies Parisian men and women, were very happy for everything to be a dilemma.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2025
This method of deep fueling is more effective at raising the plasma’s core density compared to puffing gas from the vessel’s edge.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2025
And that’s stirred up more discussions about getting labia puffing or labiaplasty to deal with these effects.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
This is not about puffing up the self, but about joining with something big.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 6 Aug. 2025
Pete Sampson, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The president has increasingly embraced fake images and videos — some appearing to be AI-generated — to mock and taunt political rivals while also puffing up his image.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 4 Oct. 2025
The White House is puffing up its chest like an inevitable victor when the clock reaches Zero Hour.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 30 Sep. 2025
Designer Jean Paul Gaultier was sandwiched between Kate Moss and Catherine Deneuve, puffing on her vape.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2025
The original existentialists, all those lovely, gallant, puffing-their-ciggies Parisian men and women, were very happy for everything to be a dilemma.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 23 Sep. 2025
This method of deep fueling is more effective at raising the plasma’s core density compared to puffing gas from the vessel’s edge.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2025
And that’s stirred up more discussions about getting labia puffing or labiaplasty to deal with these effects.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
This is not about puffing up the self, but about joining with something big.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffing
Verb
-
Your dog starts panting and won’t settle down.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Her husband was a bear — wild, panting, with sweat pasting his T-shirt to his chest.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sometimes just stroking the ball to the other field, as Andres Gimenez did to drive in a run, or rolling one through the hole as Addison Barger did for an RBI in that inning, works just as well.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
29 Oct. 2025
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One game, especially one so dominated by the defense, certainly isn’t enough to decide whether this is even an issue, but noted QB whisperer O’Connell has to be stroking his chin.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When the audio came back on during the broadcast, the audience could be heard gasping — while cohost Alyssa Farah Griffin raised her hands to her face in shock, and Sunny Hostin pursed her lips.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
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Ally repeatedly asked while gasping as about a dozen of her friends chuckled nearby.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Amazingly, Exposure contestants go through hours of practice and performance each day without ever seeming to tire, and along with the competitive spirit, there’s a real sense of community, with skaters constantly encouraging, applauding, and appreciating each other.—
Lonnie Burstein Hewitt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Nov. 2025
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When the final number was finished, the three eldest boys came to the fore on the catwalk mini stage underneath a shower of confetti and took a bow, with Mom and Dad now in the background, applauding politely but proudly.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Perry officially kicked off the screening by praising his star Shannon Thornton, best known for her role as Miss Mississippi on Katori Hall’s hit Starz show P-Valley.—
Ronda Racha Penrice,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
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Patteron burst out laughing and praising her roast.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The post was met with some excited comments from fans congratulating Bickerstaff on the accomplishment.—
Anne Erickson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
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Singletary was joined by cast members McKenna Grace, Whitney Peak and Joseph Zada congratulating him.—
Giana Levy,
Variety,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Most dogs love the feeling of the rubber groomer massaging their skin.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
7 Nov. 2025
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That merely meant coach Brian Dutcher didn’t have to delicately parcel out playing time while massaging egos on his Mariana Trench-deep roster, and the bench shortened by circumstance delivered a 77-45 win powered by a pair of true freshmen and a typically frenetic defensive effort.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Praise abounded for the 36-year-old, with three fellow veterans commending Rojas not just for his play, but also for his demeanor.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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Fort Worth school board trustee Tobi Jackson, whose district overlapped with Bivens’, also put out a call for prayer while commending Bivens on her years of service to the city.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffing. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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