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
Wear these wide-leg capris casually around the house or to run errands, and then dress them up with a blouse and heels for the evening. — Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 Then take a page from Vanessa Williams’s book and pair it with neutral wedge heels. — Amber Rambharose, InStyle, 6 Aug. 2026 For a playful print-mixing moment, finish the 9-to-5 look with a pair of leopard-print heels. — Kelsey Stewart, Glamour, 6 Aug. 2026 Condos still win on total sales, aided by a more flexible ownership structure and a housing stock that can continue to expand, but in a twist few saw coming, co-ops are increasingly nipping at their heels. — John Walkup, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 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
  • That screwed up the works / And not due to his sloppy hiring / Of a crew of incompetent jerks.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Kris and Billy watch that one together in an intimate sleepover, sinking into the murky texture of a scene in which the virginal actor allowed a jerk to take off her clothes.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • Cut at a 45-degree angle, sloping down toward the center of the rosebush.
    — Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Depending on the excursion’s stops, snorkelers might float above patch reefs or explore the channels between spur-and-groove coral formations as the reef slopes into deeper water.
    — Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of slope
Noun
  • Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, had a number of dogs throughout their life.
    — Audrey Schmidt, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Things get increasingly bleak, as the family dog’s heart medicine runs out and Jason has to put him out of his misery, and then — in doomsday prepper mode — carves up the body and puts it in the freezer just in case food gets dire.
    — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of dog
Verb
  • So, with both sides there is always a risk that the jury will tilt in an unfavorable direction.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The small bookstore eventually grew into a distinctive London chain known for browsing-friendly stores, knowledgeable booksellers, and shelves intentionally tilted upwards to best catch the light.
    — Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of tilt
Noun
  • An Illinois teen has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly committing a deadly stabbing attack while dressed in a clown outfit.
    — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Tyquan Thornton Tyquan Thornton is not only known for being a speedster, with one of the fastest combine times in history, but a class clown as well.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of clown
Verb
  • The detachable cork stands help angle the speakers toward the listener while adding a warm accent that should suit both content creators and everyday home setups.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • But what’s been clear through one week of camp is that the players angling for extensions have made strong early impressions.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of angle
Noun
  • Fans of improv, musicals and audience participation will thoroughly enjoy this performance and should be prepared to repent for sins like eating a hamburger, owning too many snakes or yearning for a younger man.
    — Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2026
  • There’s Tom Crutchfield, who loves women with the ardor of Pepé Le Pew but spends most of his time not in pursuit of the ladies but of exotic snakes, lizards, alligators, turtles and whatnot.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of snake
Noun
  • Rabies is spread by the bite or scratch of an infected animal, such as a groundhog, cat, fox, raccoon, skunk or bat.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Alternative Methods to Keep Skunks Away There are a few methods to try for deterring skunks.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of skunk

Phrases Containing heel

Browse Nearby Words

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 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on heel

Nglish: Translation of heel for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heel

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