1
as in hoisting
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 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
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Recent Examples of heaving
Then the Ducks started launching citrus fruit left and right, with Benson heaving one toward the stands, trying to reach his little brothers.
—
Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Every gesture, breath, line delivery is heaving with the labor of just trying to get through one day to the next.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Some plants with very shallow roots, such as heuchera, astilbe, gaillardia, and strawberry, can be damaged by heaving or uplift of soils caused by freeze-thaw cycles.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2025
Set in 1970 suburban Massachusetts, Reichardt's take on the heist genre saw O'Connor laboriously heaving art through a hay barn to comedic effect.
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
On the final play of the first half of Sunday's matchup, Mayfield went down in a significant amount of pain after heaving a Hail Mary pass towards the end zone.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025
Roses planted too late in fall risk heaving from freeze–thaw cycles or suffering root injury before dormancy.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
But drawing an over-aggressive, poor-technique personal foul on a 60-yard attempt for a guy trying a field goal 12 yards longer than any attempt in his career is akin to fouling a basketball player heaving a three-quarters court shot at the buzzer while trailing by two.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2025
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
Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Every gesture, breath, line delivery is heaving with the labor of just trying to get through one day to the next.
—Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Some plants with very shallow roots, such as heuchera, astilbe, gaillardia, and strawberry, can be damaged by heaving or uplift of soils caused by freeze-thaw cycles.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2025
Set in 1970 suburban Massachusetts, Reichardt's take on the heist genre saw O'Connor laboriously heaving art through a hay barn to comedic effect.
—Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025
On the final play of the first half of Sunday's matchup, Mayfield went down in a significant amount of pain after heaving a Hail Mary pass towards the end zone.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025
Roses planted too late in fall risk heaving from freeze–thaw cycles or suffering root injury before dormancy.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
But drawing an over-aggressive, poor-technique personal foul on a 60-yard attempt for a guy trying a field goal 12 yards longer than any attempt in his career is akin to fouling a basketball player heaving a three-quarters court shot at the buzzer while trailing by two.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heaving
Verb
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That’s where patriarch Mychal Thompson, the former Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers center, remembered watching his then-8-year-old son, Klay, hoisting shot after shot from the center of his chest, splashing each one through the net.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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The two teams faced off against each other 11 years ago during Super Bowl 49, with the Patriots hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the night.—
Sarah Whitten,Sara Salinas,Sarah Jackson,Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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People can experience stomach cramping, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting within 24 hours after ingesting a toxic mushroom and the situation can quickly deteriorate after that, experts say.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
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People can have stomach cramping, nausea, diarrhea or vomiting within 24 hours after ingesting a toxic mushroom and the situation can quickly deteriorate after that, experts say.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In exchange for lifting restrictions, China has agreed to reduce tariffs on Canadian canola oil, one of Canada’s top agricultural exports.—
Robert Ferris,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
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Prolonged moisture exposure can weaken the adhesive, leading to edges curling and tiles shifting or lifting entirely.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Freret is one of three krewes throwing biodegradable beads developed at Louisiana State University.—
TRAVIS LOLLER,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The flame-throwing pitching prospect didn’t display the greatest command, but his fastball, capable of hitting triple digits when fully built up, sat around 95 mph.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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User @briadeshaun took a more relatable route and impersonated an out-of-shape owl, worn out from flying and repeatedly panting to catch its breath.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
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Her dog panting, unquestioning, always thrilled to see her.—
Allegra Goodman,
New Yorker,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As the match continued, the sides grew irritated with each other, resulting in Kennedy hurling expletives at the Swedish team in defense of himself and both sides argued across the ice.—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
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Hat trick's special place in hockey In hockey, a hat trick not only refers to scoring three goals or more in a single game, but it's often followed by spectators hurling their beanies, caps and other headwear onto the rink.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But what was really baffling was Cronin’s claim that the questioner was raising his voice.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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That reality means balancing work, wellness and raising her young son, which has become the foundation for her latest collaboration with Fabletics.—
Casey DelBasso,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The atmosphere at Guard and Grace Guard and his team scanned cities nationwide for the right spot to open the next Guard and Grace, eventually tossing aside Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Nashville and Miami in favor of Charlotte.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
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To add more nuts to your diet, try tossing them in fruit bowls, salads, oatmeal, and more.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heaving. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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