shaft

1
as in beam
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 spear
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 injustice
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 shaft The Omen Transcend dons a white chassis and is supported by a slim shaft with a hole in the center to keep the cords tidy. PCMAG, 18 Mar. 2025 Because a bat has a thick barrel and rotates when swung, its motion and power depend on the distribution of weight across the entire shaft, not just in one spot. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025 The formula features slip modifiers that reduce surface friction along the hair shaft, plus sugarcane extract to reduce frizz. Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 4 Apr. 2025 Power is transferred to the back wheel via a shaft drive and six-speed gearbox. New Atlas, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shaft
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shaft
Noun
  • Indeed, two years ago, Helen Hu decided to walk away from the beam for good.
    Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Femininity and French craftsmanship are on prominent display, with bespoke headboards made from Pierre Frey fabrics in every room, as well as murals from Atelier de Ricou, bird-like Lalique sconces, and restored wooden beams on the ceilings.
    Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • That means fresh and tender asparagus spears, crunchy snap pea pods, and spicy radishes are in season.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Some of the obsidian artifacts, including arrowheads and spear tips, traveled nearly 750 miles from their source, according to Allan.
    Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Then, a sudden twist propels the narrative into a surreal exploration of time, as Lazzaro awakens years later, unchanged, and ventures into a modern world where the injustices of the past persist in new forms.
    Travis Bean, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Here, the senator was passively alluding to environmental injustices, which were commonplace in the 1970s and long before then.
    Jerel Ezell, Time, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Make sure your glasses provide 100% UV protection to shield your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays and are made from durable, shatterproof material.
    Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The intraocular lenses are made of silicone, acrylic, or other plastics and are coated in material to protect the eyes from the sun's ultraviolet rays.
    Saleen Martin, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The Kansas City native excelled in high school track and field as a shot putter, and threw the discus and javelin.
    Bruce Feldman, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025
  • With all of this going on in the house, why, oh why would Jesse Solomon (always both names) hurl himself at Lexi with the velocity of a gold medal javelin throw?
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Buyers who make the correct prediction receive a dollar per contract purchased, while those who get it wrong receive nothing in return. To be clear, Kalshi is neither a party to these contracts nor sets contractual prices.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Others appeared to be armed civilians seeking revenge for wrongs committed during the civil war, residents said.
    Christina Goldbaum, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But every individual had suffered some sort of devastating injury—like wounds made by swords, lances, daggers and iron bolts.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025
  • When guarding a monster's attack with a lance using Power Guard under certain conditions, the weapon flashes in red but the effect is not activated When using a mantle, a Weapon Equipment Skill may mistakenly be activated.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In response to questions from Jackson, Nuttall agreed that injuries to O'Keefe's face could have been caused by a punch to the face.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • In September 2006, Steve tragically passed away at the age of 44 after a fatal stingray injury while filming an underwater documentary in the Great Barrier Reef.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shaft.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shaft. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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