as in debris
discarded or useless material
there's a lot of chaff in this book, and the reader should be on the alert for it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in laugh
good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks
I got no end of chaff about my accent when I was in the military
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to tease
to make fun of in a good-natured way
chaffed her about the brightly colored shirt she had received as a gift
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to joke
to make jokes
a coworker who likes to chaff at others' expense, and this often results in hurt feelings
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of chaff
Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 25 Oct. 2024
The challenge is in discerning the wheat from the chaff.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
This dynamic—in which markets lowball ambitious movies, and streaming platforms ply audiences with algorithmic chaff—leaves little room for both enthusiasm and good-faith challenges.
—Elena Saavedra Buckley, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2024
Chaff flower will be used instead of Japanese chaff flower to refer to Achyranthese japonica, an invasive floodplain plant not known to be present in Michigan.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 30 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for chaff
Noun
Station execs didn’t think much of horror hosts and B-movie chaff.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 25 Oct. 2024
The challenge is in discerning the wheat from the chaff.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024
This dynamic—in which markets lowball ambitious movies, and streaming platforms ply audiences with algorithmic chaff—leaves little room for both enthusiasm and good-faith challenges.
—Elena Saavedra Buckley, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2024
Chaff flower will be used instead of Japanese chaff flower to refer to Achyranthese japonica, an invasive floodplain plant not known to be present in Michigan.
—Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 30 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for chaff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for chaff
Verb
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Fan favorites from that series will make their way into Everybody’s Live, the streamer teased.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
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DeVito first teased a potential reunion with Schwarzenegger in November 2023.—
Jen Juneau,
People.com,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Some joked that Sean Baker’s speech condemning the impact of streaming was the turning point for Hulu to cut off the broadcast.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
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And, of course, Oscar host Conan O’Brien found a way to joke about the Kendrick Lamar–Drake beef.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Starting today, February 12, 2025, Android customers can watch Apple TV+ on their mobile devices — phones, tablets, and foldables, whatever those are (just kidding, this is what those are).—
Tony Maglio,
IndieWire,
12 Feb. 2025
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Finally, Mack’s precocious 11-year-old daughter Opal (Norah Murphy) is more in tune with adults than kids her age.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Coffee beans are imported from Colombia and roasted three times a week at the Doral location in an 8-foot-tall metal roaster.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
28 Feb. 2025
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The cooking method also plays a role in flavor and aroma, depending on whether the piña is roasted with mesquite, oak, or pinewood, for example. Distillation, whether artisanal in copper or ancestral in small clay stills, further refines the final profile.—
Lauren Mowery,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Look for the producer, grape variety, region, and vintage, and don’t be fooled by flashy words.—
Emily Price,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
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Also, unlike its many imposters (and there are many similar looking wireless lamps out there, so don’t be fooled), the Poldina comes with a 1-year warranty on the battery and a 2-year warranty for any defects.—
Wilder Davies,
Bon Appétit,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Chaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/chaff. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
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