1
as in hoists
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
2
as in vomits
to discharge the contents of the stomach through the mouth
heaved as soon as he stepped off the roller coaster
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in lifts
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
4
as in throws
to send through the air especially with a quick forward motion of the arm
heaved the brick over the fence
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in gasps
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty
by the time he reached the top step of the tower, he was heaving
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of heaves
Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
If the plane heaves up, the spoilers can press it back down.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Cover Exposed Roots Sometimes heavy ice and snow heaves newer plants out of the ground.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
Aquilla Sadalla’s wordless vocals, a gorgeous swell of howls and heaves, complement the arrangement without becoming the focal point.
—Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026
The quarterback mishandles the snap and heaves the ball, which is picked off.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 18 Oct. 2025
Several mega-talented Georgia defensive backs appeared to short-circuit and forget how to track a ball in the air on Tennessee heaves.
—Jason Kirk, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
Seconds later, Arano pauses, and with a final groan heaves the brush back into the bucket.
—Danielle Demetriou, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2023
Verb
When a degraded grassland returns to health, the ground heaves up, as if inhaling with relief.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
If the plane heaves up, the spoilers can press it back down.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Cover Exposed Roots Sometimes heavy ice and snow heaves newer plants out of the ground.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
Aquilla Sadalla’s wordless vocals, a gorgeous swell of howls and heaves, complement the arrangement without becoming the focal point.
—Mark Richardson, Pitchfork, 3 Feb. 2026
The quarterback mishandles the snap and heaves the ball, which is picked off.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 18 Oct. 2025
Several mega-talented Georgia defensive backs appeared to short-circuit and forget how to track a ball in the air on Tennessee heaves.
—Jason Kirk, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025
Seconds later, Arano pauses, and with a final groan heaves the brush back into the bucket.
—Danielle Demetriou, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heaves
Verb
-
That has rarely been an indicator of who hoists the Cup at the end of four rounds.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Head coach Dusty May of the Michigan Wolverines hoists the trophy after defeating the UConn Huskies 69-63 in the national championship of the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Shows were led by a sentient wad of meat, a talk-show host who vomits in front of guests, and a reality-TV star who never shows his face.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Absinthe-eyed, she projectile-vomits blunt observations and also oysters onto the heavies, overimbibing her way into her own grave once she’s inevitably discarded with a shot and shove down a stairwell (a barely-there John Magaro plays one of the gangsters).—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The cushion lifts to reveal a space large enough to hold board games or an extra blanket.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The conflict in the Middle East could also push food prices higher in the coming months as a spike in diesel prices lifts transportation costs.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At one point, one of his attackers grab’s Pierre’s hoodie and throws him to the ground.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Johnson recalled his young throws coach’s attention to detail.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Agnes gasps for breath as her imagination plays out terrible scenarios that she’s never been given words for.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Deadline journalists sat towards the back of the room said the N-word and other slurs were audible, as were gasps when Davidson made his involuntary tics.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His sister administered back thrusts and, eventually, an abdominal thrust formerly called the Heimlich maneuver.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
19 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Hathaway hurls herself into that punishing sequence with violent physical force and emotional rawness.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Which is why there’s actually something immensely satisfying about all the bad ideas that Margot (Barbie Ferreira) hurls herself at over the course of Faces of Death.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This raises the odds of flight cancellations and schedule cuts, spelling trouble for the summer travel season.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Slain Iranian nuclear scientists raises alarm over uranium, expertise reaching black market.—
,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heaves. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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