SHAFTS Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

shafts

noun

plural of shaft

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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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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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 The two elevators now form a pair of glass-and-steel shafts built into the canyon wall. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2026 Having seen the shift from hickory to metal shafts, Flynn was also ahead of his time in his ability to foresee a distance problem in golf, an issue the professional game plans to address with a ball rollback in 2028. — Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 16 June 2026 Upgrades will require significant reinforcement of some walls and elevator shafts, though engineers have found ways to do the work by pouring new concrete footings and installing additional steel bracing without significantly impinging on internal spaces or being visible on exterior surfaces. — Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026 While rare earths will be the primary focus, exploration will also assess the potential for gold mining — the area is dotted with old, small-scale adits and shafts. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026 The mine shafts oblige them generously, particularly after a bender or a jilting. — Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shafts

Noun

That’s harder than trying to spot a firefly right next to someone flashing their high-beams at you.

— Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
The antlers grew off to the sides of the deer’s head instead of going upward, which contributed to the wide inside spread and long beams.

— Richard P. Smith, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of beams

Noun

Protective, almost — which makes sense, as its stunning chandeliers are designed to look like the shields and spears of African Masai warriors.

— Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026
The kitchen’s electrical oven roasts them during the daytime; they’re then chilled and served cold, with hot sauce, a ramekin of mayonnaise, and a pile of pickle spears.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of spears

Noun

Tycho Crater is visible in the lower region of the lunar disk close to the shadow, while bright ejecta rays of reflective material brighten the darker lunar seas, where lava solidified to form basaltic plains billions of years ago.

— Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Bookshelves were filled with actual paperwork and documents used by medical professionals, while even the hairline fractures visible on X-rays were created with the guidance of real-life practicing physicians.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of rays

Noun

Humans have been throwing javelins for a few hundred thousand years, yet performance has largely plateaued.

— R. Alexander Bentley, The Conversation, 26 Feb. 2026
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

Definition of javelins

Noun

And for five years, the retirees have been fighting these wrongs with little or no support from the vast majority of the City Council who have never even met with the retirees’ representatives.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 24 Aug. 2026
And having the club fined is also not going to cause individual players to curtail their emotions or not defend themselves against actual or perceived wrongs.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of wrongs

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shaft

shafts

shag

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“Shafts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shafts. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of shafts

noun

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