1
as in bowing
bending downward or forward
hanging branches blocked our way for a good part of the trail
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in downhill
a downward slope
with a steep hanging like that, the roofers can't be too careful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in swinging
to place on an elevated point without support from below
hang your coats on the coat rack in the hall
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in drooping
to be limp from lack of water or vigor
as they neared the end of the long, hard march all but the most hardy were hanging, and some could barely put one foot in front of the other
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in hovering
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air
hanging just above the horizon was a little pink cloud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in basing
to find a basis
that's very slim evidence upon which to hang a theory
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 hanging
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Dec. 2025
Of the other methods – including electrocution, lethal gas and hanging – lethal injection had the highest botch rate of more than 7%.
‘An embrace of brutality’
Still, states have remained averse to the firing squad, a position that experts who spoke to CNN believe stems from its overt violence.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Iran executed three men on Thursday who were accused of killing police officers during protests in January, with activists warning of the risk of a new surge in hangings as war rages with Israel and the United States.
—CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
Marissa Armas, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
The roomy main compartment, zippered hanging pocket, and padded laptop sleeve mean everything has a place, so there’s no more digging around for your passport at the gate.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hanging
Adjective
Max Houser 6-Tier Hanging Closet Shelf Instantly create more hanging space with this fabric shelving unit that makes use of otherwise dead vertical space.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Dec. 2025
Of the other methods – including electrocution, lethal gas and hanging – lethal injection had the highest botch rate of more than 7%.
‘An embrace of brutality’
Still, states have remained averse to the firing squad, a position that experts who spoke to CNN believe stems from its overt violence.
—Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
Farahmand said the hangings are also intended to counter a growing perception — inside Iran and among opponents abroad — that sustained attacks on the police and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) could eventually fracture the state’s coercive power.
—Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Iran executed three men on Thursday who were accused of killing police officers during protests in January, with activists warning of the risk of a new surge in hangings as war rages with Israel and the United States.
—CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
Swanson also uncovered a photograph of Banks with an effigy of a Black man hanging by a noose in the background at Mansfield High School.
—Marissa Armas, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026
The roomy main compartment, zippered hanging pocket, and padded laptop sleeve mean everything has a place, so there’s no more digging around for your passport at the gate.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hanging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hanging
Adjective
-
While the design here is emphatically traditional, a dose of modern whimsy comes through with a dangling, multi-floor chandelier loosely inspired by jellyfish.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Cernan, the junior pilot, was outside, dangling—actually spinning, tumbling, and flailing—at the end of a long umbilical cord, completely unable to control his movements.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Downs, 21, a 6-foot, 206-pound game wrecker, is an Alabama transfer who disrupts offenses consistently with a high football IQ and a downhill, violent play style.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Posting 21 points by halftime, Banchero was quick to find his spots with turnaround jumpers and aggressive downhill attacks that led to multiple trips to the free throw line.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Credit card minimum payments will be missed Missing the minimum payments on a credit card can trigger a penalty APR, which can push your interest rates above 29% (depending on the card issuer).—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Fees have increased by between $4 and $9, depending on flight times, according to its website.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Potential risks include botulism (a medical emergency), spread of the toxin beyond the injection site, drooping eyelids and other harmful reactions.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Its owner is a charismatic cowboy over 6 feet tall with slightly drooping jowls and bright blue eyes, a community fixture and something of a local legend.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On platforms like PredictIt, traders have overwhelmingly favored Fuller, with confidence hovering near certainty levels in recent days.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
As of Tuesday, crude oil prices were hovering around $110 per barrel, according to Business Insider.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Opponents argue the bill suggests some lives are more valuable than others by basing penalties on the victim's occupation.—
Jessie Balmert,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Etihad plans to bring its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to Charlotte Douglas for the first time, and basing the advanced long-haul jet at CLT.—
Chase Jordan,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.—
Aylin Woodward,
WSJ,
21 Dec. 2021
Noun
-
Swipe it through the hummus, balanced in tahini and lemon, and mulchy muhammara twanging with pomegranate molasses, and casik, the Turkish variation of the region’s ubiquitous herbed yogurt and cucumber dip.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
This spinach-onion dip mashup is a no-brainer for your veggie tray.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hanging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hanging. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
