HEAVE Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'heave' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of heave are boost , elevate , hoist , lift , raise , and rear . While all these words mean "to move from a lower to a higher place or position," heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain. // heaved the heavy crate inside

Q: When might 'boost' be a better fit than 'heave'?

The synonyms boost and heave are sometimes interchangeable, but boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push. // boosted his brother over the fence

Q: How does the word 'elevate' relate to other synonyms for 'heave'?

Elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied. // elevated the taste of the public

Q: When is 'hoist' a more appropriate choice than 'heave'?

The meanings of hoist and heave largely overlap; however, hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means. // hoisted the cargo on board

Q: Where would 'lift' be a reasonable alternative to 'heave'?

The words lift and heave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight. // lift the chair while I vacuum

Q: When can 'raise' be used instead of 'heave'?

The words raise and heave can be used in similar contexts, but raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position. // scouts raising a flagpole

Q: How do 'rear' and 'raise' relate to one another, in the sense of 'heave'?

Rear may add an element of suddenness to raise . // suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

heave 1 of 2

verb

ˈhēv

Definition of heave

as in to hoist

to lift with effort I heaved my duffel bag into the bus's overhead compartment

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to vomit

to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth heaved as soon as he stepped off the roller coaster

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to lift

to move from a lower to a higher place or position heaved the bucket from the bottom of the well

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to throw

to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm heaved the brick over the fence

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to gasp

to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty by the time he reached the top step of the tower, he was heaving

Synonyms & Similar Words

heave

2 of 2

noun

as in thrust

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Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb heave contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of heave are boost, elevate, hoist, lift, raise, and rear. While all these words mean "to move from a lower to a higher place or position," heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

When might boost be a better fit than heave?

The synonyms boost and heave are sometimes interchangeable, but boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

How does the word elevate relate to other synonyms for heave?

Elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied.

elevated the taste of the public

When is hoist a more appropriate choice than heave?

The meanings of hoist and heave largely overlap; however, hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

Where would lift be a reasonable alternative to heave?

The words lift and heave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight.

lift the chair while I vacuum

When can raise be used instead of heave?

The words raise and heave can be used in similar contexts, but raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position.

scouts raising a flagpole

How do rear and raise relate to one another, in the sense of heave?

Rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.

suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

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 heave

Verb

At one point, Nelson appears to snatch the other driver’s sunglasses from his forehead and heave them across the parking lot. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 Serena looked down, heaved a sigh and hooked her knee around the pole before mustering up a halfhearted spin. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026

Noun

Next to it is a giant Goliath crane, which can lift up to 30,000 tons in a single heave; a gleaming white Royal Caribbean cruise ship sits just a few docks away. — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026 In Game 4 between the Nuggets and Wolves, the first half finished identically -- with an 8-0 run and a heave from Murray. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heave

Recent Examples of Synonyms for heave

Verb

Rapp and his crewmate, Suzanne Driscoll, hoisted a lobster trap marked by a bobbing buoy from the Casco Bay.

— Natalie B. Compton The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 2 Aug. 2026
History tells us the managers who stay locked in while everyone else pivots toward football draft prep are the ones hoisting trophies come October.

— John Laghezza, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of hoist

Verb

Prior to the incident, Kate, who also adopted a dog named Koda in May 2026, asked for prayers for Meika after the canine vomited up some non-toxic leaves and began to have breathing problems.

— Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
Any attempt to recapture their childhoods was quickly quashed, however, as exemplified by Dee getting her hair caught in a drop-tower ride and Dennis vomiting right next to her.

— Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 28 July 2026

Definition of vomit

Verb

If fiscal spending lifts growth and productivity, markets will be more forgiving.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
Speaking from their home in Birmingham, Alabama, over video, Nan Skier lifted her hand to show the very first piece from their collection, which fits comfortably on her index finger.

— Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of lift

Verb

But Daemon gets thrown from the saddle, and Caraxes allows Sheepstealer to escape or at least to slink off into the woods to die alone.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
By the time all was said and done, Prielipp had walked three, including one with the bases loaded, and had thrown 35 pitches.

— Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of throw

Verb

Those in the crowd held their breath—and audibly gasped—as the opening to season three unfolded onscreen.

— Kenneal Patterson, Vanity Fair, 30 July 2026
Medical staff told officers that the gasping noises were a result of the resuscitation efforts and oxygen pumped into the toddler's body, the reports said.

— Jose R. Gonzalez, USA Today, 30 July 2026

Definition of gasp

Verb

While the violent mobs who hurled stones at marchers in 1966 are long gone, civil rights advocates say their demands remained strikingly familiar and that the threat to democracy has not disappeared.

— Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Resinous pine cones can also ignite and be hurled hundreds of meters by wind, helping fire spread.

— ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026

Definition of hurl

Verb

Every quarter of adoption raises the cost of an adverse ruling, for both sides.

— Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
The project has transformed the Burchardi Church, which was left largely in ruins before money was raised for a new roof and other fixes to make the piece a reality.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of raise

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heat wave

heave

heaved

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“Heave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heave. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of heave

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noun

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