to chuff

Examples

• All

• Tigers don't growl or roar, they chuff.

  We Bought a Zoo (2011)

• Barlow's mother stormed out, the mustached man chasing after her through the crowd, his feet chuffing up sawdust.

  Fiction book (1998)

• The train comes down the track, chuffing, coming slow.

  Fiction book (1995)

• "Danny," Gretchen said, when she heard me chuffing for breath below her.

  Fiction book (1999)

• Behind us, the horse chuffed loudly, and Epstein whirled fully around to look at it.

  Fiction book (1992)

• The teapot chuffed faintly.

  Fiction book (1995)

• The galloping slowed, and the horse chuffed indignantly—why are we stopping?

  Fiction book (1992)

• Number two-eighty-two had carried the Ford a good half a mile down the railroad tracks and sat now calmly chuffing, like a big old contented whale coming up for air.

  Fiction book (1999)

• The old steam engine chuffed as it puffed clouds of steam into the chilly air.

• After climbing the steep hill, she stood at the top, chuffing heavily as she tried to recover her breath.

Synonyms

H

to huff

vsto chuff

24 4.6

To breathe out loudly and hard, often from effort or anger

is a neutral heavy puffing noise not driven by effort or anger

P

to puff

vsto chuff

19 1.4

To breathe out quickly and loudly

is louder and heavier sounding like an engine or deep breathing

W

to whoof

vsto chuff

9.9

To breathe out suddenly and make a puffing sound

is heavier and more continuous like an engine rather than a single exhale

Antonyms

S

silence

660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

Compounds

C

chuff of the exhaust

9.8

A short, low sound made by an engine when the exhaust pushes out air

How Loud

to chug

11 5.1

to chuff

2 8.8

to puff

19 1.4

to pant

95 1.6

to breathe

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology