as in breeze
a slight or gentle movement of air
felt a puff of wind on his face
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in to stroke
to praise too much
a talk show host who can be counted on to puff up the celebrities who readily consent to be interviewed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of puff
Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
This sweet peplum blouse features three front ties that can be styled into bows, short puff sleeves, and is available in black and a cheetah print as well.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Apr. 2026
Some people still try to breathe through their mouth during sleep, a phenomenon called 'mouth puffing.
—Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for puff
Noun
The first course consists of a burrata and prosciutto salad, spicy rigatoni, lamb lollipops or smoked salmon cheese puffs.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
This sweet peplum blouse features three front ties that can be styled into bows, short puff sleeves, and is available in black and a cheetah print as well.
—Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
Hilton asked the same cigar-puffing audience Friday moments after Bianco spoke.
—Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 11 Apr. 2026
Some people still try to breathe through their mouth during sleep, a phenomenon called 'mouth puffing.
—Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for puff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puff
Noun
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Students now have a place to hold club meetings, play board games, shoot pool or shoot the breeze at Ivy Tech Community College’s Valparaiso campus.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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The scents include lemon grass, lavender, ocean breeze, lilac, watermelon, sweet orange and sandlewood.—
Sarah Kyrcz,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Natural Wonders the Whole Family Will Love Mount Rainier National Park in Washington is the kind of place that makes kids gasp.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Apr. 2026
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Within a few weeks of starting the treatments, O’Neal was walking without gasping and talking without pausing to gobble air.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In her first varsity at-bat the next day against Lincoln-Way Central, Krauchun stroked a single up the middle.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
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Ferrer then went back to the sinker, placed the 98 mph pitch on the outside edge of the plate and Merrill stroked it to left, clearing the bases for a walk-off win in front the remnants of a sellout crowd of 46,095.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Take a deep breath and appreciate this season of slow.—
Ayrika L Whitney,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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Recorded on five reel-to-reel decks, the composer’s 1975 piece blends everyday and exotic sounds—human breath, cheeping frogs, bubbling geysers—into a passionate defense of the raptures of listening.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Potential symptoms include rapid breathing, vomiting, panting and a high heart rate.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2026
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As soft as pajamas yet lovely enough to wear out on the town (or around the ship), the micro modal fabric of these Saint Haven pants drapes elegantly, resists wrinkles, and has a relaxed fit that works equally well at a harbor-side bar or a breezy dinner ashore.—
Amanda Eyre Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Her voice, languid and honeyed, can glide over sensual R&B, bouncing reggaetón, shimmering pop or nostalgic jazz.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
16 Oct. 2025
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Those harmonies — simultaneously honeyed and gravelly, providing just enough support without overshadowing, yet so powerful and full of potential — echoes Whitten.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
2 July 2024
Verb
-
Not every type of kale needs massaging.—
Zoe Denenberg,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Apr. 2026
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Another potential treatment route the study opens up is using machines to massage cancer cells, imitating the rhythmic beating of the heart.—
Anil Oza,
STAT,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Villa Park assistant coach Ted Lawton raced to congratulate Urbanski while the Spartans’ players swarmed Noriega.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
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After Biles qualified for her third Olympic Games, Owens congratulated his wife with a kiss while holding a cutout of her face.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puff. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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