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
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
The actors paced in the wings puffing on cigarettes, watching the sliding door in case the fireman should catch them.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Varied scenes include a video of smokestacks in the unmistakable soft light of a Beijing winter, the artist puffing cigarettes as a Lazy Susan spins leisurely with dishes and a bottle of Nongfu Spring, a local mineral water brand; and a robot getting out of an elevator.
—Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
This whiskey can, of course, be enjoyed without puffing on a cigar—that part of the ritual is completely optional—but it was made very intentionally by master blender Nancy Fraley and master distiller John Schrepel.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 27 Dec. 2025
Out on break, puffing on a cigarette, Dana is sucker-punched by a patient disgruntled over his wait time.
—Ew Staff December 5, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Dec. 2025
Lohan, in a white dress, is seen puffing on an electronic cigarette and also eating ice cream from 4D Gelateria on South Pointe Drive.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
What Pie Weights Really Do Pie weights help prevent pie crusts from puffing up or shrinking during blind baking—the process of partially or fully baking a pie crust before adding filling.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2025
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
The actors paced in the wings puffing on cigarettes, watching the sliding door in case the fireman should catch them.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Varied scenes include a video of smokestacks in the unmistakable soft light of a Beijing winter, the artist puffing cigarettes as a Lazy Susan spins leisurely with dishes and a bottle of Nongfu Spring, a local mineral water brand; and a robot getting out of an elevator.
—Stephy Chung, CNN Money, 22 Jan. 2026
This whiskey can, of course, be enjoyed without puffing on a cigar—that part of the ritual is completely optional—but it was made very intentionally by master blender Nancy Fraley and master distiller John Schrepel.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 27 Dec. 2025
Out on break, puffing on a cigarette, Dana is sucker-punched by a patient disgruntled over his wait time.
—Ew Staff December 5, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Dec. 2025
Lohan, in a white dress, is seen puffing on an electronic cigarette and also eating ice cream from 4D Gelateria on South Pointe Drive.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025
What Pie Weights Really Do Pie weights help prevent pie crusts from puffing up or shrinking during blind baking—the process of partially or fully baking a pie crust before adding filling.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 24 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffing
Verb
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Eyes wide, panting near panic, Foster perfectly captures the audience's own fear of being alone in the dark with a monster.—
Darren Franich,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
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User @briadeshaun took a more relatable route and impersonated an out-of-shape owl, worn out from flying and repeatedly panting to catch its breath.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At first, Hanke thought Miyabi was just stroking his ego.—
Lucia Cheng,
Des Moines Register,
25 Mar. 2026
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She was later reunited with her dog, stroking him in stunned silence before being taken to the hospital.—
Danielle Bacher,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Olivia Miles makes the types of nifty passes that can leave fans gasping in astonishment.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
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Now, a walk down the block with his kids leaves him gasping for breath and reaching for his oxygen tank.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The nonprofit issued a statement on Wednesday applauding Huerta’s decision to share her story.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
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Players, coaches, cheerleaders and fans rose as one, applauding and cheering the confirmation of their spot in this most American spectacle.—
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Instead, some progressive allies rushed to denounce Israel’s military response while either praising or refusing to condemn Hamas.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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Hearts have melted online after a scared rescue dog bravely faced her fear in order to join her owner, with many viewers praising her unquestionable courage and determination.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Please join me in congratulating Allie on her new endeavor.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
1 Apr. 2026
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Season 6 Love Island USA star Serena Page, Chloe Bailey and JT were among those congratulating her on social media.—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Officials will spend months trimming, adding to and massaging the financial books to address residents’ priorities.—
Devyani Chhetri,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Mar. 2026
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The easy-to-use roller design features a cooling metal applicator that gently glides across the neck's contours, massaging the lightweight formula into skin without pulling or tugging skin.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After the hearing, Gorman’s family released a statement commending the judge for detaining Medina.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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Bhattacharya has visited the Atlanta campus, sent emails commending the CDC staff and thanking them for their work, and extended telework accommodations in his first weeks on the job.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffing. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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