shaft

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 The Omen Transcend dons a white chassis and is supported by a slim shaft with a hole in the center to keep the cords tidy. PCMAG, 18 Mar. 2025 Because a bat has a thick barrel and rotates when swung, its motion and power depend on the distribution of weight across the entire shaft, not just in one spot. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025 The formula features slip modifiers that reduce surface friction along the hair shaft, plus sugarcane extract to reduce frizz. Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025 Power is transferred to the back wheel via a shaft drive and six-speed gearbox. New Atlas, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shaft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaft
Noun
  • In a photo at the end of the reel, Shea stands in a pink shirt while Loubet, in a tuxedo, beams beside him.
    Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
  • Once the creatures were warmed back up, the parts of the ice layer that had not been exposed to the beam sublimated away, and the pattern was preserved on the tardigrade's surface, even after the creatures were rehydrated.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The Trump administration – with Musk and his aides as the tip of the spear – have roiled the federal government with mass layoffs and demands for access to sensitive information at agencies including the Social Security Administration and the National Labor Relations Board.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • Later, the antler was likely repurposed as part of a harpoon, a pointed spear used to catch fish.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Then, a sudden twist propels the narrative into a surreal exploration of time, as Lazzaro awakens years later, unchanged, and ventures into a modern world where the injustices of the past persist in new forms.
    Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Here, the senator was passively alluding to environmental injustices, which were commonplace in the 1970s and long before then.
    Jerel Ezell, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • True to its name, this is refreshing to apply as hyaluronic acid, aloe, coconut water, and marine actives deliver weightless hydration while chemical UV filters shield from damaging sun rays.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Sun Protection Hair helps protect your scalp from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.
    Carrie Madormo, RN, Health, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The Kansas City native excelled in high school track and field as a shot putter, and threw the discus and javelin.
    Bruce Feldman, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
  • With all of this going on in the house, why, oh why would Jesse Solomon (always both names) hurl himself at Lexi with the velocity of a gold medal javelin throw?
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Buyers who make the correct prediction receive a dollar per contract purchased, while those who get it wrong receive nothing in return. To be clear, Kalshi is neither a party to these contracts nor sets contractual prices.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Others appeared to be armed civilians seeking revenge for wrongs committed during the civil war, residents said.
    Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But every individual had suffered some sort of devastating injury—like wounds made by swords, lances, daggers and iron bolts.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025
  • When guarding a monster's attack with a lance using Power Guard under certain conditions, the weapon flashes in red but the effect is not activated When using a mantle, a Weapon Equipment Skill may mistakenly be activated.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In response to questions from Jackson, Nuttall agreed that injuries to O'Keefe's face could have been caused by a punch to the face.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Investigations revealed assailants had used a sticky bomb to ignite the fire, causing 4 pilgrim deaths and over 20 injuries.
    Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shaft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaft. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

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