cleaver

noun

Definition of cleavernext
as in knife
a heavy implement with a wide sharp blade used for cutting up large pieces of meat

Related Words

Relevance

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 cleaver The victim was stabbed in the head, arm and chest with a meat cleaver. — ABC News, 23 July 2026 In Des Moines, Iowa, he got arrested for running through the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association in a cow costume, while his friend chased him with a cleaver. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026 And Todd Spangler explains why Comcast is hauling out the corporate meat cleaver to separate NBCUniversal and Sky from the core Comcast cable and tech assets. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 29 June 2026 Lester stabbed Nicky, who then died after falling on his own cleaver. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cleaver
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleaver
  1. knife
  2. cutter
  3. machete
  4. dagger
Noun
  • The lid for covering food on the grill and the magnetic wall strip for knife and utensil storage lack cleaning.
    — NWA Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Tucked in a slit in the back cover is a Cabello’s receipt for six rifles, ten smoke grenades, two hunting knives, a hundred zip ties, three KitKats.
    — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of knife
Noun
  • Early backers can secure their own handmade bronze EDC cutter before this exclusive batch sells out.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Ohtani got his bat head down to a cutter from former Dodgers pitcher Dustin May on the inside corner.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of cutter
Noun
  • Surveillance video shows 24-year-old Joshua Flores allegedly holding a machete on Western Avenue in Brighton.
    — Logan Hall, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • However iconic Jason Voorhees may be, real ones respect his machete-wielding mother, Pamela.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of machete
Noun
  • Despite the double-digit lead, TCU failed to deliver the dagger offensively and gave Baylor multiple chances to mount a comeback.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Nik Bonitto stripped wideout Rashid Shaheed in scoring territory, Kris Abrams-Draine pulled down a fourth-quarter interception, and McMillian delivered the dagger in overtime.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of dagger

Browse Nearby Words

cleaved (to)
cleaver
cleavers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cleaver.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleaver. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on cleaver

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cleaver

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of emissary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All