cloven hoof
noun
1
: a foot (as of a sheep) divided into two parts at its distal extremity
2
[from the traditional representation of Satan as cloven-hoofed]
: the sign of devilish character
Examples of cloven hoof in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And, does that pointed shoe resemble a cloven hoof?
—
Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2023
But after the release of their 2010 debut album Opus Eponymous — a theatrical metal masterpiece about the coming of the Antichrist — something peculiar began to happen with Ghost: Forge dipped a cloven hoof into social and political commentary.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2022
Leaving cloven hoof prints from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, more than 3,500 musk oxen live in Alaska.
—Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 3 July 2021
This story has everything: cloven hooves on the run, a major urban city, an air of mystery—and all without animal carnage or service interruptions?
—Cady Drell, Marie Claire, 21 Aug. 2018
Their bodies are built for harsh desert conditions, from their cloven hooves and extra-long eyelashes to their cactus-chewing mouths.
—Elaina Zachos, National Geographic, 30 May 2018
In contrast, cloven hooves are an external characteristic.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, Jewish Journal, 9 Apr. 2018
To the Jewish-controlled press: as a creature with horns, a cloven hoof, and a long tail.
—Philip Bump, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2017
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.
Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 10 Mar. 2023
But after the release of their 2010 debut album Opus Eponymous — a theatrical metal masterpiece about the coming of the Antichrist — something peculiar began to happen with Ghost: Forge dipped a cloven hoof into social and political commentary.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2022
Leaving cloven hoof prints from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, more than 3,500 musk oxen live in Alaska.
—Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, 3 July 2021
This story has everything: cloven hooves on the run, a major urban city, an air of mystery—and all without animal carnage or service interruptions?
—Cady Drell, Marie Claire, 21 Aug. 2018
Their bodies are built for harsh desert conditions, from their cloven hooves and extra-long eyelashes to their cactus-chewing mouths.
—Elaina Zachos, National Geographic, 30 May 2018
In contrast, cloven hooves are an external characteristic.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, Jewish Journal, 9 Apr. 2018
To the Jewish-controlled press: as a creature with horns, a cloven hoof, and a long tail.
—Philip Bump, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Cloven hoof.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloven%20hoof. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share