shafts

Definition of shaftsnext
plural of shaft
1
as in beams
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 spears
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 injustices
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 shafts Unlike other methods for sinking deep shafts, Gangtie Jiliang is built specifically to tackle hard rock. Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026 Upgrades will require significant reinforcement of some walls and elevator shafts, though engineers have found ways to do the work by pouring new concrete footings and installing additional steel bracing without significantly impinging on internal spaces or being visible on exterior surfaces. Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026 While rare earths will be the primary focus, exploration will also assess the potential for gold mining — the area is dotted with old, small-scale adits and shafts. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026 The mine shafts oblige them generously, particularly after a bender or a jilting. Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 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 condition of caskets, artifacts and human remains varied, said Stantec archeologist Ryan Peterson, noting that the number human remains found does not equal the number of grave shafts. Alexandria Burris, IndyStar, 14 Nov. 2025 Stairwells and elevator shafts acted like chimneys, and the absence of emergency lighting, signage and alternative exits prevented the safe evacuation of the hotel’s 238 guests, the indictment said. CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025 In the past, some radioactive fallout has leaked from test shafts. Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shafts
Noun
  • Within the 10 rooms, wooden beams and centuries-old doors coexist with rainfall showers.
    Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Wrap string lights around railings or porch beams for a warm glow.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 14 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • That means fresh and tender asparagus spears, crunchy snap pea pods, and spicy radishes are in season.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Some of the Bindjareb attempted to escape, while others grabbed their spears, and at least five Bindjareb individuals were killed in the resulting skirmish.
    Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The series highlights systemic inequities and the government’s failures, revealing how the storm exacerbated existing social injustices while providing a platform for local voices to reclaim their story and share resilience, grief, and wisdom for future generations.
    Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Since then the institutions of American aging have reproduced rather than ameliorated the inequalities and injustices of the wider American economy.
    Trevor Jackson, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • After Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the Tigers, Royals manager Matt Quatraro relayed that Collins’ X-rays were negative.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026
  • The report also highlights another disruptive effect of solar flares, whereby Earth's atmosphere can temporarily expand when heated by incoming X-rays from the sun.
    Ryan French, Space.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Humans have been throwing javelins for a few hundred thousand years, yet performance has largely plateaued.
    R. Alexander Bentley, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 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
  • Nick Offerman rounds out the complex family unit as Margo’s estranged father, Jinx, a former pro wrestler fresh out of rehab who returns to her life in an attempt to right his wrongs.
    Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Last year, Algerian legislators voted to declare France’s colonization of the North African country a crime, approving a law that calls for restitution of property taken by France during its 130-year rule, among other demands seeking to redress historical wrongs.
    ABC News, ABC News, 9 Apr. 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
  • Three or four decades ago, the newspaperman was appealingly raffish—at once a bum who drank too much and a knight-errant who charged unafraid at social injustice, succored the weak, and crossed lances with the powerful and arrogant.
    David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • No other injuries were reported in the incident.
    Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • The 6-foot-7 forward hadn’t played more than 66 games in a season during his first three years in the NBA, often beset by nagging or unlucky injuries.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shafts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shafts. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.

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