shafts

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 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
  • Light wood beams and moldings, thick rugs underfoot, and minimalist furnishings tempt even the most dedicated skiers to stay indoors.
    Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Le Teendezvous was a converted horse stable — dim lights, wooden beams, and a smell that said livestock once lived here.
    Henry Selick, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • This super creamy, cheesy casserole lets the crispy asparagus spears shine.
    Krissy Tiglias, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Paired with zucchini spears and pine nuts, your tongue tussles with pillowy soft textures and crunch.
    Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • And that religion, like music, can carry the sound of struggle – but also the hope of one day overcoming the injustices and inequalities of everyday life.
    Ken Chitwood, The Conversation, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Precedents for pardon Maidstone’s campaign follows similar efforts elsewhere in the United Kingdom to confront historical injustices.
    James Frater, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Carrots' pigments can help give you a healthy glow and protect against harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
    Barbie Cervoni, Verywell Health, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Japanese maples do best when sheltered from wind and the hottest rays of the afternoon sun.
    Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Following a group of illusionists, the crew uses their magical tricks to stage a series of heists and right some wrongs.
    Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
  • The New York Yankees should be one of the busiest teams in baseball this winter as the organization looks to right many of the wrongs from this year.
    Drew VonScio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
  • Eight students and the Suburban's driver reportedly suffered injuries in the crash that were not life-threatening.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Supporters of the Cougars and Red Raiders have united behind Texas Tech’s official barber, Ivan Ortiz, and his wife, Maddie Ortiz, after Maddie suffered severe injuries in a recent car crash.
    Sam Jane, New York Times, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • As the days mount and tension builds, inequities are exposed as often as breaks in the case.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
  • To walk is to encounter difference, to share the commons, to witness the city’s inequities up close.
    Fahad Zuberi, Time, 5 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shafts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shafts. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

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