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 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 Its core structure includes a long spiral access tunnel, three vertical shafts, and two horizontal levels, reaching a depth of about 1,840 feet. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 27 Dec. 2025 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
  • The rooms Choose from 28 luxury homes that are thoughtfully curated to display a refined take on Western lodge living—here, rustic elegance meets upscale comfort with timber beams, stone fireplaces, and rich Western-chic decor.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2026
  • The same exception applies for flashing high-beams at other drivers.
    Cailey Gleeson, jsonline.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • To say that ranch is popular is an understatement because Americans love the tangy taste on everything from chips to pickle spears to shrimp.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Jan. 2026
  • Yiyoguaje sported a spectacular headdress of layered feathers that cascaded down his back, blue and pink, green and yellow, topped by three long macaw feathers standing up like spears.
    Stanley Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Focusing on social dynamics, injustices, and local issues in our neighborhoods or cities will be necessary.
    Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 21 Jan. 2026
  • Lee suffered other injustices, including the four traumatic deaths of her infant children.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • That runs counter to decades of assumptions about Chondrichthyan fishes, the group that includes sharks, rays, skates and chimaeras.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • In the morning, make sure to follow up with a face sunscreen to protect the skin from harmful UV rays.
    Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • 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
  • Righting a couple of wrongs that everybody was talking about.
    D. Orlando Ledbetter, AJC.com, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Was this award created, to some degree, to right Emmy wrongs?
    Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 8 Jan. 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
  • Maye is unable to participate because of the Patriots advancing to the Super Bowl, while Herbert and Allen dealt with injuries at the end of their seasons.
    CBS News, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Since mid-2025, federal immigration agents, including ICE officers, have shot at people at least 16 times during enforcement operations, resulting in multiple injuries and four confirmed deaths.
    Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shafts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shafts. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.

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