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huff

/həf/
/həf/
IPA guide

Other forms: huffed; huffing; huffs

If you're in a huff, you're visibly annoyed or offended. Another kind of huff is to exhale. When the Big Bad Wolf was in a huff, he threatened, "Then I'll huff, and I'll puff, and I'll blow your house in!"

People tend to flounce out of a room in a huff or storm away in a huff. If your soccer coach calls you off the field for being unsportsmanlike, you might be tempted to stomp off in a huff, convincing her that she was right. You could also describe this state as being "miffed" or "in a snit" or "in a fit of pique." In all cases, your irritation is obvious. Another meaning of huff is to exhale or blow loudly, especially from exertion. At the end of a marathon, you might huff and puff with exhaustion, but you'll be glad to pass the finish line.

Definitions of huff
  1. noun
    a state of irritation or annoyance
    synonyms: miff, seeing red
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    type of:
    annoyance, botheration, irritation, vexation
    the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed
  2. verb
    blow hard and loudly
    “he huffed and puffed as he made his way up the mountain”
    synonyms: chuff, puff
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    type of:
    blow
    exhale hard
  3. verb
    inhale recreational drugs
    synonyms: snort
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    type of:
    breathe in, inhale, inspire
    draw in (air)
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