as in breezes
a slight or gentle movement of air
felt a puff of wind on his face
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in strokes
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 puffs
Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
Prairie Smoke The small flowers of prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) are pretty, but the real show starts after the spring bloom when the flowers turn into feather-like seed heads resembling puffs of smoke.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 13 Apr. 2026
These puffs are flavored with Gruyere, dry mustard, and cayenne.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
That’s where portable dry shampoo formulas—especially puffs—really shine, by streamlining the entire experience.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2026
The unusual survival of the snack soon sparked reactions online, with many commentators joking about the resilience of the popular cheese puffs.
—Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
The restaurant first made waves with dishes like flaky curry puffs and laksa, a rice noodle soup made with more than 20 ingredients.
—Mario Cortez, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Apr. 2026
Abe Lemons won an NIT and always filled reporters’ notebooks with colorful and outlandish quotes in between puffs on his ever-present cigar.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026
Love the afro puffs on her, however.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026
Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2026
But The Bagel Nut Duo, chocolate croissants, yellow sheet cake, and a bag of Cacio e Pepe puffs to eat your feelings about yet another recall.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
The crust puffs up nicely and isn’t as thin and cardboard-y as others, while the white cheese blend and wisp of rosemary remind me of a New York white pie slice.
—Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 Feb. 2026
Mia puffs up her body to look intimidating, as the googly-eyed statue stares back at her.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
At the top of this list is fernleaf acacia (Acacia baileyana), a wonderful small tree with bipinnate blue-grey leaves and fragrant yellow spherical flower puffs.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2026
Prairie Smoke The small flowers of prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) are pretty, but the real show starts after the spring bloom when the flowers turn into feather-like seed heads resembling puffs of smoke.
—Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 13 Apr. 2026
These puffs are flavored with Gruyere, dry mustard, and cayenne.
—Josh Miller, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
That’s where portable dry shampoo formulas—especially puffs—really shine, by streamlining the entire experience.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2026
The unusual survival of the snack soon sparked reactions online, with many commentators joking about the resilience of the popular cheese puffs.
—Claire Dodds, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
The restaurant first made waves with dishes like flaky curry puffs and laksa, a rice noodle soup made with more than 20 ingredients.
—Mario Cortez, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Apr. 2026
Abe Lemons won an NIT and always filled reporters’ notebooks with colorful and outlandish quotes in between puffs on his ever-present cigar.
—Kirk Bohls, Houston Chronicle, 25 Mar. 2026
Love the afro puffs on her, however.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026
Verb
With its telltale cone shape, the northernmost of Sicily's Aeolian Islands is home to a volcano that puffs on a near-constant basis.
—Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 31 Mar. 2026
But The Bagel Nut Duo, chocolate croissants, yellow sheet cake, and a bag of Cacio e Pepe puffs to eat your feelings about yet another recall.
—Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
The crust puffs up nicely and isn’t as thin and cardboard-y as others, while the white cheese blend and wisp of rosemary remind me of a New York white pie slice.
—Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 Feb. 2026
Mia puffs up her body to look intimidating, as the googly-eyed statue stares back at her.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffs
Noun
-
Willy’s older brother, Ben (Jonathan Cake, plummy-voiced and elegant, a cedar to Lane’s stunted apple tree), breezes in and out, always on the way to or from some impressive capital venture.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Partial clearing is expected midday before more showers in the late afternoon and evening that’ll be accompanied by increasing breezes.—
Anthony Edwards,
San Francisco Chronicle,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As soft as pajamas yet lovely enough to wear out on the town (or around the ship), the micro modal fabric of these Saint Haven pants drapes elegantly, resists wrinkles, and has a relaxed fit that works equally well at a harbor-side bar or a breezy dinner ashore.—
Amanda Eyre Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Good opposing coaches pants him every time (Loyola, of course, being a particularly painful example).—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When Robbie first strokes the plush walls, her Cathy stares with the appropriate mix of awe and terror.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
9 Feb. 2026
-
For an artisanal twist, look no further than Ezcaray Matisse throw that looks as if Georgia O’Keeffe applied the paint brush strokes herself.—
Kristine Hansen,
Architectural Digest,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Women also have more hypopneas (shallow breaths with less oxygen flow), whereas men tend toward apneas (complete pauses in breathing).—
Katie Camero,
SELF,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The first happened on Friday evening, as people across Central Florida held their breaths through the longest six minutes of 2026.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Agnes gasps for breath as her imagination plays out terrible scenarios that she’s never been given words for.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Deadline journalists sat towards the back of the room said the N-word and other slurs were audible, as were gasps when Davidson made his involuntary tics.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The center also has hydrotherapy chairs where athletes can lie as a jet of water, similar but much stronger than the jets in a jacuzzi, massages them.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 Nov. 2025
-
In a viral video shared on Instagram last Sunday under the username @whiskeytoller, the gray kitty can be seen hanging around his brother, Oakley, as his mom massages the injured area, doing his best to show his love and support.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Though Campbell keeps a low profile and doesn't post publicly on social media, the pro golfer praises his longtime love on Instagram whenever given the opportunity.—
Emily Krauser,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Bumble and Bumble Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner Allure praises this shampoo and conditioner set from Bumble and Bumble that promises to produce thickness.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And our lactation consultant judge applauds these bottles as an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable storage bags.—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
7 Apr. 2026
-
In the clip, the crowd applauds Phan's quick thinking for saving the shark's life.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puffs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffs. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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