PUFFING Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

puffing

verb

present participle of puff

as in panting

to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty he came running up the stairs puffing and wheezing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in stroking

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

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 puffing Throughout Thursday’s ruling, Judge Bryan Biedscheid compared Meta and its suite of apps to a factory — and its harm to puffing toxins into the air. — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026 The sight of a dough puffing, cheese oozing out its side, becoming browned and crispy…who cannot be swayed? — Alex Beggs, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 July 2026 Set in an alternate past during Japan's Meiji era, the world of Sparks of Tomorrow is totally reliant on steam power, with massive boilers constantly puffing away. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 3 July 2026 Solar maximum was reached in late 2024, heating and puffing the Earth’s atmosphere, increasing the drag on all satellites. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 2 July 2026 Despite those flashes on the counter, Potter will have probably felt like puffing his cheeks and throwing his hands in the air. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 30 June 2026 In the mid-2000s, after getting the worst of it during a few hurricanes, the external panels had to be replaced, but they were faithfully reproduced down to the bull’s steam-puffing nostrils. — Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for puffing

Verb

The delivery person added that none of the canines appeared to have access to food or sufficient water, and that all the animals were panting.

— Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026
Dogs primarily rely on panting, while cats also groom themselves to help regulate body temperature.

— Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 21 July 2026

Definition of panting

Verb

There was only one other visitor, another mother stroking another small head.

— Fran Moreland Johns, The Atlantic, 11 May 2026
Alongside Cruise feeding and stroking his dying cat while walking around his mansion with his gut hanging out, there are shots of planes readying for battle and collapsing polar ice caps.

— Brent Lang, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026

Definition of stroking

Verb

Police say Coffer was pulled to safety by his boat partner, who told police Simpson fled the scene and the boy was gasping for air.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Sharing a video of the moment, Kotb is seen turning a corner in her house and gasping in shock as she’s confronted with a rainbow fringe curtain in the entrance to her living room.

— Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of gasping

Verb

Leaders of several similar operations including Masonicare in Wallingford, Duncaster in Bloomfield and Elim Park in Hamden joined Fairview officials in applauding its growth.

— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
Taylor Swift's fans were quick to react to the change on social media, applauding whatever maneuvers Swift engaged in to curtail the use of her work.

— Diego Parrado, Vanity Fair, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of applauding

Verb

For this reason, many are praising OpenAI for its transparency and candor around the event.

— Emily Forlini, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026
If, for example, a commencement speaker praising the value of artificial intelligence is met with jeers from graduates – as former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was in May 2026 – the speaker’s message is immediately rendered inert.

— Evan Clarkson, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of praising

Verb

The rest of the league is playing poker, while Dunleavy is sitting in the corner playing Solitaire and congratulating himself on not losing any cards.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
Taylor, who also challenged McCrory in 2024, also issued a conciliatory statement on Tuesday congratulating Khan on her election victory.

— Andrew Brown, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of congratulating

Verb

Reactions to Graves’ retirement Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas spoke at the Thursday press conference, commending Graves for her leadership.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
The meteorologist’s followers are commending her for her environmentally friendly practice.

— Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026

Definition of commending

Browse Nearby Words

puffery

puffing

puffing (up)

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“Puffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puffing. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of puffing

verb

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