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 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 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
  • But one coach who adheres closely is Army’s Jeff Monken.
    Seth Emerson, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • On immediate application, the product comfortably clings to lips without feeling sticky or heavy.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 21 Apr. 2026
  • The sharp, pungent scent of chile peppers clings to the air.
    Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Lohan's day of filming included a version that sticks closely to the original blueprint.
    Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Once the media sticks its oar in, the real reason for the robbery emerges by degrees.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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