shaft

Definition of shaftnext
1
as in beam
a narrow sharply defined line of light radiating from an object shafts of late-afternoon sunlight pierced the blinds and streaked the floor

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2
as in spear
a weapon with a long straight handle and sharp head or blade the footmen set their shafts so as to form a bank of steel against the enemy's charging cavalry

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3
as in injustice
unfair or inadequate treatment of someone or something or an instance of this the homeowners who were bought out are convinced they got the shaft in that deal

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shaft This 27-inch ice scraper and snow brush tool is equipped with a durable ABS shaft (the same material that’s used in some hardside suitcases) and a supportive EVA cotton handle that can hold up against temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit. Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026 Next door, the masonry elevator shaft rises three stories above construction crews working on the first floor below. Wheeler Cowperthwaite, The Providence Journal, 21 Jan. 2026 That list includes several top-20 players and notables playing the brand’s popular iron shafts, such as Lydia Ko (KBS VX Lite 90) and Hye-Jin Choi (PGI 90). Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026 The ankle height shaft on this pair is classic, but the spill seam adds a unique touch. Annie Blackman, InStyle, 17 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shaft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaft
Noun
  • Make your vehicle visible to others both ahead of you and behind you by using your low-beam headlights since this means your taillights will also be on.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Alipio tied Chiles for best score on the balance beam.
    Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Reigns would eventually hit the spear on Gunther and toss him over the ropes for the win.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
  • But then Linda goes chasing a wild boar through the jungle while toting a bamboo spear, and impales it to death in a gleefully gratuitous scene of CGI gore.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • These are constitutional guarantees forged in response to deliberate injustice.
    Rosalind Osgood, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Headline after headline found celebrities speaking about injustice and the larger world, rather than what was going inside this little bubble of talking about movies.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The lightweight, non-sticky formula leaves behind a subtle gloss while protecting lips from both UVA and UVB rays.
    Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The center is engraved in a pattern of undulating rays emanating from the hour and minute guichets (windows), meant to resemble the edges of clouds pierced through with sunlight.
    Carol Besler, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Let me be run through with the wooden javelin of truth.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
  • The Tofinu took refuge in the lagoons along the Bight of Benin, a core area of the slave trade, venturing forth in canoes with harpoons, javelins, and swords to fight off raiders from powerful nearby kingdoms.
    Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The Knicks merely need to right their wrongs.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
  • In the hope of righting the wrong of helping Roper fake his death, Angela has also cornered Mayra (Indira Varma), the MI-6 chief who is in cahoots with Roper.
    Hunter Ingram, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Warhorses charge, lances down, crashing through the tilts as lances break on shields and men topple from their steeds.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
  • As the horses gallop and the lances shatter, Egg whoops like a ringside spectator at WrestleMania.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Schwesinger also battled through an ankle injury this season, playing 16 of 17 games for Kevin Stefanski’s club.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • After several years of gradual development amid shifting roles and a major shoulder injury, Dosunmu cemented himself as an elite two-way player this season.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shaft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaft. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.

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