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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shaft
The journey winds through sweeping turns before plunging into a dramatic 910-degree double helix that spirals into a mine shaft, delivering both heart-pounding excitement and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.
—
Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
The boots featured a knee-high design, a sharp pointed toe, a lofty platform sole and a pleated front shaft.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
The crew members in the elevator shaft were not named.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
The roomy square toe and chunky geometric heel are on-trend and create a flattering silhouette, as does the shape of the faux-leather boot shaft, which blooms out slightly at the top to allow for full freedom of movement.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shaft
Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 18 Feb. 2026
The boots featured a knee-high design, a sharp pointed toe, a lofty platform sole and a pleated front shaft.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
The crew members in the elevator shaft were not named.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
The roomy square toe and chunky geometric heel are on-trend and create a flattering silhouette, as does the shape of the faux-leather boot shaft, which blooms out slightly at the top to allow for full freedom of movement.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shaft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaft
Noun
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As the pulsar spins, these beams sweep across the cosmos like the beams of light from a lighthouse.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
21 Feb. 2026
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By the time the beams meet, some of the crucial details may already be gone.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For most of the season, the spears pointed outward.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
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Other sufferers, however, who submitted entries to the 1983 Migraine Art Competition, depicted their pain in drawings and paintings of nails, needles, axes, ice picks, arrows, bolts, jaws, chisels, shivs, guns, red-hot spears, sledgehammers, devils, and long pins.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Her dioramas, sculptures and large-scale multimedia installations explore the legacy of American slavery, confront racial injustice and celebrate the strength and resiliency of African American women.—
Leigh-Ann Jackson,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Despite Vance’s assertion that politics have no place at the Games, the Olympics have long been fertile ground for athletes to generate awareness about political tensions and social injustice.—
Jemele Hill,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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As Lorant knew, the light rays that fell on Lincoln’s face and body during the exposure are the same ones that actually made the photographs of him.—
Mark B. Pohlad,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Feb. 2026
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Our skin makes vitamin D when exposed to UV rays, so that helps increase production.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The facility has 194 parking spaces and can seat more than 2,500 (1,908 seats in the grandstand, 508 in the berm overlooking the long throws area for javelin, hammer and discus and 200 seats by shot put).—
Sarah Spencer,
AJC.com,
19 Feb. 2026
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Let me be run through with the wooden javelin of truth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And not only that, but the lack of an adequate concept prevented the victims from fully understanding the wrong themselves.—
Timothy J. Pawl,
The Conversation,
23 Feb. 2026
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The arc of a wrongful-conviction story bends toward exoneration and release—a flawed but heartening correction of past wrongs.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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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
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As the horses gallop and the lances shatter, Egg whoops like a ringside spectator at WrestleMania.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Powell was added to the Heat’s injury report on Thursday morning, with the team listing him as questionable for the contest because of right groin soreness.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
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The man who was wounded at the store is 54-year-old Anthony Brown, who remained hospitalized Thursday with injuries that weren't considered life-threatening.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shaft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaft. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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