heel 1 of 2

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
The series is a continuing priority for Lionsgate, which releases spin-off Ballerina on June 6, on the heels of films that have grossed over $1B in total. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2 May 2025 On Monday, Forest head to face a Crystal Palace side who might well have spotted another potential Achilles’ heel in their performance. Paul Taylor, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Verb
Now governments around the world are attempting to bring these companies to heel, subjugating them to the aims of nationalist politics rather than allowing their products to spread freely. Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025 And that also explains why the president and his most fervent supporters are so eager to bring them to heel. Niall Stanage, The Hill, 10 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for heel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heel
Verb
  • In the garden, children played fetch with the Ambassador’s herding dog, who scurried up and down the sloping grass, underneath cherry trees in full bloom.
    Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Mix course sand and organic material such as pine bark or leaf mold into the backfill soil and slope the soil up to the edges of the rootball.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But my soft palate being a lazy jerk is not the real culprit here.
    Outside Online, Outside Online, 2 Apr. 2025
  • But this Ron Howard was an alternate universe version of Ron Howard, who instead of being notoriously nice, is sort of a jerk.
    Esther Zuckerman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • These different rates can cause buildings to tilt and can lead to other infrastructure damage.
    Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 8 May 2025
  • Holiday and White have played central roles in tilting those results.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 5 May 2025
Noun
  • Police brought in hundreds of law enforcement personnel with dogs, armored carriers, horses and helicopters that circled overhead.
    Maryclaire Dale, Marc Levy and Michael Rubinkam, Anchorage Daily News, 13 Sep. 2023
  • The couple was seen taking a stroll on a N.Y.C. street with Bosworth's dog, Happy, on Tuesday.
    Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2023
Verb
  • Someone angles to take a picture of a brunette in a crisp button-down and another in a crop top—which Laurence and I quickly realize are Charli XCX and Lorde.
    Elise Taylor, Vogue, 6 May 2025
  • For her second selfie, Allen shimmed slightly to the side, gently angling the camera towards her body.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • In the ‘30s and ‘40s, there were all these clowns trying to sell things, and then there was Krinkles the Clown trying to sell cereal [in the ‘50s].
    Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2025
  • Matthew Davies, 41, was taken into custody on suspicion of assaulting a man with a glass bottle while dressed up as a clown on Oct. 31, 2018, according to a news release issued by the department.
    Vincent Moleski, Sacbee.com, 8 May 2025
Noun
  • Hudson was finally filmed picking up the snake out from the toilet.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 3 May 2025
  • From there, the research team isolated Friede’s antibodies that reacted to neurotoxins from the snakes tested.
    Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • The daring skunk drags chunks of the carcass one by one into the log for safekeeping, the video shows.
    Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Fleas are carried constantly into your yard by wildlife that passes through, such as skunks, raccoons, opossums, mice, and deer, says Benson.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Heel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heel. Accessed 16 May. 2025.

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