1
as in pushed
to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one
I had to keep shoving my heavy suitcase as I slowly made my way to the head of the line
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in pressed
to push steadily against with some force
quit shoving your hand in my face
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 shoved
Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov immediately shoved Cotter against the glass.
—
Peter Baugh, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Over the course of six inconceivably traumatic days, Caldwell and three friends were forcibly marched and starved, shoved under boulders to evade detection, and made to watch their kidnappers execute members of the rival Kyrgyz Army at point-blank range.
—Namir Khaliq, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Some of the gags are inspired, some are exasperating, none of them are presented in a way that suggests the filmmakers know the difference, and all of them are shoved down your throat until they’re diminished enough to swallow.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
Officer Hilton then allegedly lifted the man from the ground by his jacket, turned him around, walked him backward, and shoved him, causing the man to fall onto his back and down approximately three stone steps.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Hutchinson pulled Walber out of the car, beat him, and shoved him into the cargo area of the car, according to Scott's testimony.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
But the boy had become impatient and sullen, his hands shoved in the pockets of his jacket.
—Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Wilson began to place handcuffs on Curry’s hands when Shane shoved Curry into the bed of the pickup truck, causing a laceration on Curry’s chin, according to the court document.
—Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
However, the source claims Taylor shoved Ritchson to the ground first, prompting the actor to throw punches.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Peter Baugh, New York Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Over the course of six inconceivably traumatic days, Caldwell and three friends were forcibly marched and starved, shoved under boulders to evade detection, and made to watch their kidnappers execute members of the rival Kyrgyz Army at point-blank range.
—Namir Khaliq, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Some of the gags are inspired, some are exasperating, none of them are presented in a way that suggests the filmmakers know the difference, and all of them are shoved down your throat until they’re diminished enough to swallow.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
Officer Hilton then allegedly lifted the man from the ground by his jacket, turned him around, walked him backward, and shoved him, causing the man to fall onto his back and down approximately three stone steps.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Hutchinson pulled Walber out of the car, beat him, and shoved him into the cargo area of the car, according to Scott's testimony.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
But the boy had become impatient and sullen, his hands shoved in the pockets of his jacket.
—Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
Wilson began to place handcuffs on Curry’s hands when Shane shoved Curry into the bed of the pickup truck, causing a laceration on Curry’s chin, according to the court document.
—Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
However, the source claims Taylor shoved Ritchson to the ground first, prompting the actor to throw punches.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shoved
Verb
-
The next hitter, junior Michaela Hamilton — a Northwestern State (LA) pledge — followed with an RBI triple that keyed a three-run inning that pushed the Grapevine Faith lead to 4-0.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Building the execution unit is the next step after Republicans pushed a law through the Legislature to make firing squad the primary method of execution in Idaho.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Things became chippy in the second quarter when Denver backup center Zeke Nnaji, pressed into action due to the injuries, got into an altercation with De'Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II after Murray and LJ Cryer exchanged shoves.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Similarly, instead of sounding the alarms in front of the cameras amidst nationwide ICE blowback, Lamont pressed the president directly and personally behind closed doors, securing a commitment that agents wouldn’t be sent where they weren’t requested.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The news of potential negotiations drove down the price of oil.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
-
An officer of the Alvarado Police Department drove up, got out of his car, and drew his weapon.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While the valuation has compressed meaningfully, the company’s weakening growth profile and persistent underperformance suggest the market may still be adjusting to a lower-quality earnings outlook.—
Tony Zhang,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
-
During ejection, a moon’s orbit can become highly elongated, generating strong tidal forces as it is repeatedly stretched and compressed by its host planet.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shoved.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shoved. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
