1
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
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shafts
The miners insist the two shafts were not connected.
—
Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shafts
Noun
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His antlers were 51 inches along the main beams and had a spread of 48½, with six long symmetrical points to a side.—
Robert Merchant,
Outdoor Life,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Across the sideline, Joe Flacco sat on the bench near the end of another disaster, staring blankly into the ceiling beams at Ford Field.—
Jason Lloyd,
New York Times,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Or some good ol’ corn on the cob, or long broccolini spears.—
Ann Taylor Pittman,
Southern Living,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Hoosiers can hunt frogs with bow and arrows, clubs, some firearms, or simply, their hands, but Plumier teaches those gathered at Goose Pond how to use gigs — long, multi-pronged spears that look a little bit like tridents.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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There is no question that the study of history and its conflicts, injustices and exclusions can be dispiriting.—
Annie Polland,
Time,
25 Sep. 2025
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Her vision focuses not on the supernatural tales long associated with the site, but on the systemic injustices that forced workers into unsafe conditions.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Key Takeaways The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises applying moisturizer first, followed by sunscreen for optimal hydration and protection from UV rays.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Furthermore, vitamin C works with vitamin E to protect your skin against harmful UV rays.—
Isabel Vasquez RD LDN,
Health,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Winning another ring can wash away a lot of wrongs.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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But the most spectacular aspect of Nuestra Tierra may be its use of drone camerawork, and the way Martel uses the unsettling stillness of a drone as the eye of an impassive god, looking down at the wrongs carried out by those on the ground.—
Vulture Staff,
Vulture,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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At a handful of locations, these spikes extended out to nearly a meter, looking more like lances than anything needed to ward off a close-in attack.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Celtics star Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles in that second-round series, and Pacers floor general Tyrese Haliburton tore his Achilles in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, and those two injuries have opened up the East.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Admittedly, Howe had hoped to alter his side more in 2023-24, making four changes following the draw at Milan, but injuries and suspensions restricted his ability to do so.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Since at least a decade ago, protests in Morocco have often centered on regional inequities and the government’s priorities in Rabat.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
28 Sep. 2025
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Advertisement One of the most interesting perspectives came from Belarus, which called attention to the growing global inequities in AI development.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shafts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shafts. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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