1
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shafts
The miners insist the two shafts were not connected.
—
Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 23 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shafts
Noun
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The analysis combined the results from two major long-baseline experiments that send beams of muon neutrinos across hundreds of miles to distant detectors.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Inside, pale marble and granite play against chestnut beams, keeping the spaces bright but grounded, while floor-to-ceiling glass slides open to the landscape, drawing the eye to the sea and surrounding hills.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Asparagus boasts 89 micrograms (mcg) of folate per four spears.—
Molly Burford,
Verywell Health,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Or some good ol’ corn on the cob, or long broccolini spears.—
Ann Taylor Pittman,
Southern Living,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Most overt is the sweeping nationwide crime of rural impoverishment; then there are the endless tiny, daily injustices that result.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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Much of Iran’s clandestine cinema, including some of Panahi’s earlier works, is didactic, focused on valorizing the victims of the regime’s injustices.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The sun’s rays will warm the soil, and the cloth will hold in that radiant heat overnight.—
Neil Sperry,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Oct. 2025
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The veterinary team uses specialized equipment such as X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds to help diagnose and treat animals.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Tamra, whom Shannon has refused to forgive for past wrongs, goes under the table to help right as Shannon starts to slide out her seat in the banquette under the table.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
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Many students have acted boldly, and occasionally made dumb mistakes, because they were outraged by historical wrongs, incendiary speakers, cultural stereotypes, or other provocations.—
Christopher L. Eisgruber,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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At a handful of locations, these spikes extended out to nearly a meter, looking more like lances than anything needed to ward off a close-in attack.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Despite lifesaving measures, the man died from his injuries, according to Adger.—
Julie Mendes,
AZCentral.com,
23 Oct. 2025
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Alvarez, who excelled after returning from the minors, also showed his toughness while playing through injuries to both of his hands down the stretch.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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While the district would adapt, the reality is that students with the greatest needs would feel the impact first, and inequities between communities would widen.—
Grace Tucker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
15 Oct. 2025
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After losing her home in a California wildfire, Timoner exposes inequities magnified by disaster.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shafts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shafts. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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