CLAW Synonyms: 32 Similar and Opposite Words

claw

verb

Definition of claw

as in to burrow

Related Words

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Dissimilar Words

as in to lacerate

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 claw Jake Shane— born and raised in Manhattan— was sitting in a box with Tate McRae and Hailey Bieber when the Knicks clawed their way back from 29 points down. — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 11 June 2026 As the critical 72-hour rescue window closes in Venezuela, families claw through rubble in La Guaira and beyond after a pair of earthquakes left hundreds dead and tens of thousands missing. — Regina Garcia Cano, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026 In a remarkable Game 4, the Knicks pulled off the biggest-ever comeback of the NBA Finals, clawing their way to a win after being down 29 points. — Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 18 June 2026 Instead of allowing criminals to steal funds and attempting to claw them back later, the administration is now using advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence to detect and block fraudulent claims before the money ever leaves the Treasury. — Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for claw

Recent Examples of Synonyms for claw

Verb

Seed Bare Patches in Your Lawn Cicada killer wasps prefer to burrow into bare soil and are less likely to tunnel through dense grass, says Schumacher.

— Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 29 June 2026
All of the experts recommended filling in those tiny spots, so the insect doesn't burrow inside and choose it as the site of its new hive.

— Mallory Carra, The Spruce, 27 June 2026

Definition of burrow

Verb

In the last year, Huston has broken his eye socket — twice — and his jaw, as well as lacerating his kidney, per posts on his social media.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 28 June 2026
That biography took the form of a dark romance between the self-lacerating Louis and his fiercely loving but brutal maker, Lestat, filtered through the former’s brooding subjectivity.

— Judy Berman, Time, 2 June 2026

Definition of lacerate

Verb

Those mounds of soil — not apparent in the photograph — were consistent with digging a hole as dirt is shoveled out and dumped along the edge.

— Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
With the work now being migration, most programs are still shoveling, counting tasks and missing the structure.

— Maman Ibrahim, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of shovel

Verb

The lineup already was revving, as Rushing homered in the second inning while Sasaki was still in the game, and both Kyle Tucker and Muncy drove in runs off starter Randy Vasquez in the third, cutting the deficit to two.

— Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Potential applications beyond wind energy The researchers believe the manufacturing approach could cut production costs for small wind turbines and help more people use lightweight renewable energy technology.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026

Definition of cut

Verb

When drought tightens the channel, water managers, dredge crews, and lock operators must communicate with towboat companies and shippers nearly every moment.

— Alfredo Sosa, Christian Science Monitor, 24 June 2026
It’s then dredged in seasoned flour—key for both browning and flavor—before pan-frying in a mixture of olive oil and butter.

— Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 21 June 2026

Definition of dredge

Verb

Double-bass glissandos hint at hands grubbing in the earth, while abrupt moments of concerted action—notably, an accordion wheezing out an F-sharp-minor chord—suggest flickering signals and transmissions.

— Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Despite his esoteric interests, Machen grubbed up a career as a popular and prolific author.

— Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026

Definition of grub

Verb

The crash site was forest in 1944, but it was later excavated for rice cultivation, Fong told Jackson.

— Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
While Freddy was in Boston mourning Germany’s defeat, online sleuths excavated the least-savory tidbits from his X posting history.

— Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026

Definition of excavate

Browse Nearby Words

clattery

claw

clawed

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Style

“Claw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/claw. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of claw

verb

Example Sentences

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