huff 1 of 2

1
as in fuss
a state of nervous or irritated concern was in a huff because everyone was running late and the school bus would stop to pick them up in a matter of minutes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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huff

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word huff distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of huff are dudgeon, offense, pique, resentment, and umbrage. While all these words mean "an emotional response to or an emotional state resulting from a slight or indignity," huff implies a peevish short-lived spell of anger usually at a petty cause.

in a huff he slammed the door

Where would dudgeon be a reasonable alternative to huff?

Although the words dudgeon and huff have much in common, dudgeon suggests an angry fit of indignation.

stormed out of the meeting in high dudgeon

When is offense a more appropriate choice than huff?

While in some cases nearly identical to huff, offense implies hurt displeasure.

takes deep offense at racial slurs

When can pique be used instead of huff?

The synonyms pique and huff are sometimes interchangeable, but pique applies to a transient feeling of wounded vanity.

in a pique I foolishly declined the invitation

When might resentment be a better fit than huff?

In some situations, the words resentment and huff are roughly equivalent. However, resentment suggests lasting indignation or ill will.

harbored a lifelong resentment of his brother

In what contexts can umbrage take the place of huff?

The words umbrage and huff are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, umbrage may suggest hurt pride, resentment, or suspicion of another's motives.

took umbrage at the offer of advice

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 huff
Noun
The huffs and hums, produced by two women standing face-to-face and vocalizing from their throats, is believed to be one of the oldest music forms in the world. Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Aug. 2024 Trump huffs and he puffs And could blow the White House down Pick a different end Plus! Drew Goins, Washington Post, 12 July 2024
Verb
The trail huffs up 1,000 feet per mile, traversing talus slopes and narrow ridgelines en route to a dizzying view of Yellowstone Lake. Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan, Outside Online, 3 June 2025 Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace seem to have huffed an entire boxed set of Friday Night Lights before sitting down to brainstorm Landman. Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for huff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for huff
Noun
  • No fuss, just a screen that does the job way better than the price suggests.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Including a mix allows recipients to recreate a little piece of Markle's kitchen without much fuss.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Robinson also explained the obscure engravings found on bullet casings that were left behind at the scene.
    Connor Greene, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office What To Know Videos posted on social media after the shooting showed officers carrying Zinn from the scene as students can be heard screaming.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • During the 2008 financial crisis, Biglari seized on shareholder anger and economic uncertainty.
    Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Taking on Kimmel On Wednesday afternoon, Carr tapped into preexisting MAGA media anger about a Monday night Kimmel monologue and used a right-wing podcaster’s platform to blast Kimmel and pressure ABC’s parent company Disney.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Reviewers rave about how much the lazy Susans help with pantry organization.
    Lauren Taylor, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Sep. 2025
  • Thousands of Amazon shoppers rave about the Activscience Neck Firming Cream for its skin-tightening, wrinkle-fighting powers, and now it’s marked down to $25.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The leggings also feature three pockets and are made with sweat-wicking material.
    Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 13 Sep. 2025
  • This episode of Watch Party is brought to you by sweat, gold and tiger blood.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Prettygarden Flowy Fall Maxi Dress This pick offers a similar fit to the Mascomoda dress, but with a more understated design.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2025
  • So while the 27-year-old is one of the most potent bats available, teams will have to decide on his positional fit.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • TikTok user @shotmyheartwithnovacaine posted a video in July ranting about how people dress when going to concerts to her 137K followers.
    Laney Crawley, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025
  • No need to rant and rave at the AI about its code generation.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Widespread panic and pain People who were not directly exposed to the disaster but who were exposed to the news also experience distress, anxiety or symptoms of PTSD.
    Arash Javanbakht, The Conversation, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Naturally the thought of death came into one’s mind occasionally but one tried to be sensible about it, not getting into a panic, not pushing it away.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Huff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/huff. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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