HAW Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

haw

verb

Definition of haw

as in to hem

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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 haw In the midst of it all, young children decked out in Algerian gear hemmed and hawed at their idols. — Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026 Still, this is 10 straight minutes of absolute peppering, and 10 minutes of hemming and hawing from Schefter. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2026 People with an instinct for action are those who jump in and tackle things head-on, rather than hemming and hawing about it. — Kate Morgan, Forbes.com, 11 Mar. 2026 Capable partners are good partners, unlike so many of our traditional allies, who wring their hands and clutch their pearls, hemming and hawing about the use of force. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 2 Mar. 2026 Barring America losing a war or experiencing a crushing economic depression, one imagines that even the anti-Trump candidates will again be doing the hemming and hawing that made so many of the 2024 versions so ineffective. — Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 18 Mar. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for haw

Verb

Rather than chasing one elusive number at a time, mathematicians study how these Ramsey numbers grow as the graphs become larger—and how to hem them in.

— Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 15 July 2026
Analysts say Burnham's policies, like Starmer's, could be hemmed in by bond market investors opposed to any additional borrowing.

— Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 22 June 2026

Definition of hem

Verb

Treatment is more than a medication Any eligible person shouldn’t hesitate to start taking medication in addition to making lifestyle changes to reduce long-term risks, Al-Jarshawi said.

— Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
Other Western Conference contenders did not hesitate to upgrade their personnel.

— Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of hesitate

Verb

While the Reeder family continues to wait for answers — from psychics or elsewhere — Sophie’s father has begun to make peace with the agonizing situation that has now prompted authorities to seek clarity from the beyond.

— Amanda Musa, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
The trucks wait until all those in the area are ready before traveling in convoys to packing plants, accompanied by police patrols to prevent robberies.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of wait

Verb

Ellison and his executives have vacillated from anger to acceptance.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Since then, his game behind the plate has vacillated between good and bad — an inconsistency aggravated by the presence of Luis Torrens (and his defensive excellence) as his backup.

— Tim Britton, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of vacillate

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havocs

haw

hawed

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“Haw.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/haw. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of haw

verb

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