1
as in hoists
to lift with effort
I heaved my duffel bag into the bus's overhead compartment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
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
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
Some nights the crowd heaves outside Mắm and the feeling is catch as catch can, diners hunched on low plastic stools eating off only slightly taller plastic tables, on the sidewalk and in the street, even spilling over to a nearby empty storefront.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
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
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 machinery lifts heavy pieces of concrete and rebar.—
Anas Baba,
NPR,
6 May 2026
-
The decision lifts Louisiana’s need to have two majority-Black districts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Continue reading … PAWS OFF — Curiosity throws this cat for a loop in the kitchen.—
,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
When the pitcher throws the entire game without any relief.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 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
-
Theron, meanwhile, hurls herself into the sinewy action sequences that have increasingly been her home turf over the past two decades, flinging herself down hills and into rivers and navigating some precarious rock-climbing terrain.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Hathaway hurls herself into that punishing sequence with violent physical force and emotional rawness.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
School districts could then decide on their own whether to offer teachers raises and, if so, how big the pay hikes should be.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
-
These moves—when combined with other capital raises involving additional share issuances—have impacted the company’s stock price.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heaves. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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