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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
These supportive sandals feature an arch-supporting footbed, deep heel cup, and a toe loop strap for a more secure fit. — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2026 The designer’s signature heeled shoes, first introduced in 1959, feature a distinctive inward-curving heel, and comes in four styles, including pumps, slingback heels, boots, and cuissardes. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 4 Sep. 2026 Still, there was much pomp and circumstance at the gala in July, and many thousands of dollars’ worth of clothing and jewelry plus plenty of vertiginous heels negotiating with the gravel. — Sarah Douglas, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 News of the acquisition follows hot on the heels of Georgia’s decision to submit the feature as its entry to the 99th Academy Awards. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Sep. 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
  • According to children’s program manager Fedeline Julien, who has worked for Beaches since 1999, the area where Treasure Beach stands used to be dedicated to beach parties, team member residences, and the jerk truck.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
  • In late August, Mayor Mamdani hosted a celebration of Caribbean culture at Gracie Mansion with plenty of patties and jerk chicken to go around.
    — Reshma B, VIBE.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • In 1947, French fashion designer Christian Dior debuted a curvy, hourglass style that emphasized a full bust, cinched waist, and sloping hips.
    — April White, JSTOR Daily, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Though pictured largely unfurnished, the area looks well-proportioned, with room for a sofa and a coffee table, plus an entertainment center, even if those trademark sloping walls might make installing some furniture a little awkward.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of slope
Noun
  • My therapy dog and I accompanied grieving families to ground zero in the days following the attacks.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Above and below the main narrative of the Bayeux Tapestry are two strips filled with ancient beasts, including tail-chasing dogs and tightly knotted swans.
    — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of dog
Verb
  • Photos from Reuters after the crash showed the aircraft with its nose on the ground and tail tilted up.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Some Cardinals players were spotted in their dugout ahead of the game sporting crooked caps, and one player incorporated a slight hat-tilting motion into his post-hit celebration.
    — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of tilt
Noun
  • Target recently received backlash for 'offensive' Halloween costume This comes on the heels of Target apologizing in late August for a Halloween circus clown costume that critics said appeared to conjure Blackface and 19th-century minstrel shows.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Cam Schlittler, no stranger to Boston beef, used an emoji to call Flemming a clown on an Instagram post.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of clown
Verb
  • On steep slopes, this mechanism also lets the ball control its downhill speed by simply angling the pendulum uphill.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2026
  • After a massive settlement with Meta, California’s attorney general is angling for broader changes to the social media industry.
    — Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of angle
Noun
  • With interiors largely shot inside Hossain’s own house in Dhaka, the film is filled with striking shots of animals — lizards galore, snakes, monkeys, and mosquitoes.
    — Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The snakes came to their audition thanks to Nancy Novograd and her company All Tame Animals.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of snake
Noun
  • The disease is primarily spread to humans through bites and scratches from infected animals like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes.
    — Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The petting zoo, Farm Adventures, said the goats were too young for vaccination and had been bitten by a skunk found in their pen.
    — Aria Bendix, NBC news, 10 Sep. 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 16 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on heel

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heel

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