cleaves

Definition of cleavesnext
present tense third-person singular of cleave
as in adheres
to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion you should resolutely cleave to the facts in your report

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 cleaves With a rock in a sock, Racine cleaves her own bloody swath down her father’s path, embracing her genetic destiny. Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 15 May 2026 This enzyme cleaves the ester bonds in the neuronal portion of the back retina—the retinal pigment epithelium— to create a usable form of vitamin A, a molecule called 11-cis-retinal. Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 4 May 2026 Altai Mountains, Mongolia Hunting with eagles on horseback is a tradition found in a region of Mongolia that cleaves close to Russia, China, and Kazakhstan. Rob Crossan, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2026 Where Hansen-Løve cleaves closely to her characters, Schanelec takes a step back, filming in long and middle distance shots. Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2026 Consider the unending angst about the team’s former name, which still cleaves fans into opposing camps. David Aldridge, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025 The analysis found that motorists who travel on Chain of Lakes Drive, which cleaves through Golden Gate Park to connect the Sunset and Richmond districts, saw the sharpest increase in rush hour congestion. Ko Lyn Cheang, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Sep. 2025 The barrier not only separates two empires and ideologies, but cleaves the psyches of the characters themselves. Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleaves
Verb
  • But for the Christmas-week slate, when six of the 16 games were distributed via a premium platform, the league adheres closely to that 87% free model.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 11 May 2026
  • But Paul Anthony Kelly is a less deft actor than Pidgeon, and he is given material that adheres even closer to the surface of the legend.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • One clings desperately to her dreams, while the other sees an opportunity to climb the ranks within the system.
    Kevin Giraud, Variety, 19 May 2026
  • The city clings to the edge of a continent, shaken loose every few decades by earthquakes, rebuilt every time.
    Melanie Subin, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • The Antarctic Peninsula, a spindly chain of icy mountains which sticks off the west side of the continent like a thumb pointing toward South America, is one of the fastest warming places in the Southern Hemisphere.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
  • Each sticks their face in the fan at an admirable level, but separation ability will always be their calling card.
    Jimmy Durkin, New York Times, 8 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cleaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleaves. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

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