1
as in hoisting
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 vomiting
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 lifting
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 throwing
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 panting
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
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 heaving
Since 2023, the actor has regularly been photographed at the Studio City Farmers Market, arms—and Bode tote—heaving with tulips, pincushions, sunflowers, and sea lavender.
—
Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2025
And started just heaving crying.
—Hannah Parry
anna Commander
sonam Sheth, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2025
And started just heaving crying.
—Hannah Parry
anna Commander
sonam Sheth, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heaving
Verb
-
That national title game was so long ago that, in the time since hoisting the trophy, his Michigan team has been found guilty of several thousand NCAA violations.—
Kevin Cusick,
Twin Cities,
5 Sep. 2025
-
In the new video, Westman, with hair pulled back in a ponytail and wearing a T-shirt, is seen browsing the firearms and, at one point, even hoisting a rifle and aiming it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Other more serious, though rare, risks include pancreatitis, gallbladder disease and potential kidney injury — particularly if severe dehydration occurs due to vomiting, the expert cautioned.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The process, which is similar to vomiting, was discovered in a new study from the Washington University School of Medicine and the Baylor College of Medicine.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Apart from lifting the ban on social media, the protesters’ other demands included that the Prime Minister resign and that Nepal establish an independent watchdog body similar to an ombudsman to monitor corruption.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Nuno will be replaced by Ange Postecoglou, who was relieved of his duties by Tottenham Hotspur in June, just weeks after ending the club’s 17-year wait for a major trophy by lifting the Europa League.—
Dan Cancian,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
More Getty Images Purdy certainly did not play his best football last year, throwing for 3,864 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The messages contained information only someone close to Lauryn would have known, throwing twist into the mystery.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Howard’s best comedies have a light, almost effortless touch, but this one is panting and gasping essentially from the opening frames.—
Will Leitch,
Vulture,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Officers responding to the scene found the dog panting heavily, with excessive drool coating the back seat.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Little League Baseball should consider moving pitching mounds back to better protect players as pint-sized phenoms are hurling fastballs that clock more than 80 mph, advocates told Newsweek.—
Joshua Rhett Miller,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Williams was the king of the one-liners, hurling insults that made headlines and made Cunningham fume.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Since 1995, when Trevor’s twins Joshua and Samuel died in England, the Marlborough father has dedicated his life to raising funds to donate to special care baby units throughout the country.—
Brian Anthony Hernandez,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
-
This enclosed back segment of the property could work for raising chickens and other small farm animals —away from the main house.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But the way Herbert flashed early in his career, tossing seven touchdown passes and only one interception in a 2021 season sweep of the defending AFC champion Chiefs, had come to feel like a tease.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Harrell’s improvement After a slow start against the Mountaineers in the Duke’s Mayo Classic, tossing an interception and completing just 54% of his passes, Harrell showed slight improvements against the Tar Heels’ defense.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heaving. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share