hewed; hewed or hewn
ˈhyün 
; hewing
; hewing
1
: to cut with blows of a heavy cutting instrument
roughly hewn logs
2
: to cut down by blows of an ax
hew a tree
3
: to give form or shape to with or as if with heavy cutting blows
hewed their farms from the wilderness—
J. T. Shotwell
J. T. Shotwell1
: to make cutting blows (as with an ax)
hewer
noun
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
Examples of hew in a Sentence
Verb
They hewed logs to build a cabin.
The walls are built of stones hewn by skilled craftsmen.
Recent Examples on the Web
Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Nearly 20 legislators — who generally hew closer to the party’s mainstream than its more progressive wing — were invited for group discussions and educational panels featuring organizations that paid to attend the event.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2025
In fact, del Toro’s film looks to hew much more closely to Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel of the same name.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
Kaling wore a mohair cardigan over a silk skirt or dress, semi-sheer tights, and platform lace-up oxfords, all in shades of deep red that hew closer to purple than brick.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hew
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Verb
Over the decades, the periodic exchange of rockets forced people on both sides to hunker down into deep defensive tunnels hewn from the solid rock.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Nearly 20 legislators — who generally hew closer to the party’s mainstream than its more progressive wing — were invited for group discussions and educational panels featuring organizations that paid to attend the event.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 18 Oct. 2025
In fact, del Toro’s film looks to hew much more closely to Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel of the same name.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2025
Kaling wore a mohair cardigan over a silk skirt or dress, semi-sheer tights, and platform lace-up oxfords, all in shades of deep red that hew closer to purple than brick.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hew
Cite this Entry
“Hew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hew. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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