heel 1 of 2

noun

ˈhēl How to pronounce heel (audio)
Definition of heelnext
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others felt like a heel when she found out that she'd blamed the wrong person

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

heel

2 of 2

verb

as in to slope
to set or cause to be at an angle the strong gust heeled the sailboat almost to the point of capsizing, but we managed to right it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 heel
Noun
Redick said that Reaves did not participate in practice Saturday after being diagnosed with a left heel bruise Thursday. — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 14 Nov. 2026 The shoe’s four rear heel units are pressurized to 17 psi to cushion heel strikes, while two additional 7 psi units are intended to encourage a smooth midfoot-to-forefoot transition. — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 14 Nov. 2026 With a square toe and a slight heel, these Mary Janes look much more expensive than their $24 price tag. — Sarah Felbin, InStyle, 13 Nov. 2026 The traditional funayuki is a shorter knife, around seven inches long, with a narrow, pointed tip and a tall heel. — Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heel
  1. jerk
  2. slope
  3. dog
  4. tilt
  5. clown
  6. angle
  7. snake
  8. skunk
Noun
  • Its patented HeadCatch Technology helps prevent the all-too-familiar nod, jerk and repeat cycle that makes sleeping upright such a challenge.
    — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 11 Nov. 2026
  • As Walter, Carman Lacivita has to be a pompous jerk for a lot of this play then must soften for scenes of genuine compassion and personal growth.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • On the other, the black sand slopes downward into darkness, garden eels poking cautiously from burrows before instantly retreating at the slightest movement.
    — Avantika Chaturvedi, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Floor-to-ceiling windows bring the landscape into nearly every room, while the low-slung design seems to hover above the sloping site.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of slope
Noun
  • Police had originally been called to the home for reports of dogs in poor health.
    — Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Neighboring schools sent social workers to help, and Western Springs Village Hall also had social workers and a comfort dog on hand to help anyone who witnessed the incident.
    — Marni Pyke, Chicago Tribune, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of dog
Verb
  • Growth factors Demand is driven by an aging population, rising prescription volumes and a drug pipeline tilted toward specialty medicines that are costly, complex to handle and increasingly dispensed outside hospitals.
    — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The results tilted far closer to incremental improvement than a complete transformation.
    — Sam McDowell November 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of tilt
Noun
  • Escola, who won a Tony Award for playing Mary, has created a role that has become a holy grail for the most fearless and demented of naughty clowns.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 Nov. 2026
  • Two clowns in serious legal trouble colluded to put the entire planet in an economic crisis.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of clown
Verb
  • And Democrats have to contend with the Senate filibuster and a new bloc of progressives angling to push for more ambitious policies.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The campaign committee angling to defeat the proposal, called Amendment 3, also had a monetary advantage.
    — Jason Rosenbaum, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of angle
Noun
  • The guest pavilions are a short walk away via meandering stone pathways that snake across the property and down to the Aegean Sea.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Nov. 2026
  • If your winter wardrobe consists mostly of black, this snake-print purse is an easy way to mix things up.
    — Jill Layton, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of snake
Noun
  • But there is also no mistaking the distinct black-and-white fur and bushy tails of skunks.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Officials say the last animal confirmed to have rabies that wasn’t a bat was a skunk infected with the bat strain of rabies in Long Beach in 2014.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of skunk

Phrases Containing heel

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hee-haws
heel
heeled
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Cite this Entry

“Heel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heel. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on heel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heel

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