Synonyms of shafts

shafts

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• beams
• rays
• sunbeams
• lasers
• spotlights
• moonbeams
• sunbursts

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spears
• javelins
• lances
• pike
• darts
• spikes
• pikestaffs
• tridents
• halberds
• harpoons
• leisters
• gaffs

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• injustices
• wrongs
• injuries
• inequities
• insults
• disservices
• raw deals
• outrages
• indignities
• slurs
• offenses
• slights
• affronts
• grievances
• complaints
• beefs
• put-downs

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• equities
• justices
• crickets

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shafts

Industrial operators can deploy them to inspect narrow pipelines, ventilation shafts, sewers, and underground mines for structural flaws. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026

The official said that the collapse began on Sunday in one of the mine shafts and spread to the other interconnected shafts. — Yasir Abdallah, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

The Tour Edge, designed for players with regular swing speeds, comes your choice of three Fujikura Ventus golf shafts. — Langston Wertz Jr, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2026

And via roomy leg openings, the jeans easily fit over most boots without bunching up around their shafts. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2026

Ankle boots are generally easier to store since their shorter shafts are less likely to collapse. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2026

Having seen the shift from hickory to metal shafts, Flynn was also ahead of his time in his ability to foresee a distance problem in golf, an issue the professional game plans to address with a ball rollback in 2028. — Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 16 June 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

The mine shafts oblige them generously, particularly after a bender or a jilting. — Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026