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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffing
Verb
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Potential symptoms include rapid breathing, vomiting, panting and a high heart rate.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
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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
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Two-year-old Lily Capasso stopped by, stroking a small paint brush on the starting line – a sign that the world’s most iconic marathon is for everyone, no matter their age.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Within a few weeks of starting the treatments, O’Neal was walking without gasping and talking without pausing to gobble air.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2026
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Before Heuermann changed his plea, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney asked him to confirm details surrounding each murder as members of the victims' families were heard gasping and audibly crying in the courtroom gallery.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Dano remembered the audience applauding mid-movie while seeing the film for the first time at Sundance.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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Others praised troopers for stepping in to help, applauding authorities for rescuing the vulnerable cub and ensuring it was placed in proper care.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Viewers quickly rallied around the sister’s efforts in the comments, praising both the transformation and the bond between the two.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
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Players on both sides are constantly praising one another.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Jerry Jones quickly recovered and told a story about Clinton after congratulating him on a recent Forbes article that highlighted his accomplishments.—
Briauna Brown,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
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Please join us in congratulating Christine on this exciting next chapter.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Not every type of kale needs massaging.—
Zoe Denenberg,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Apr. 2026
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The best part is that it can be used on bare or painted nails—even just massaging your cuticles and nail beds can provide results.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Attention around Simpson has since taken off, with people commending him for his kindness and generosity.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Puffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffing. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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