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
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Recent Examples of heaving
The 1926 storm was more like a steamroller, heaving its hurricane strength winds across 135 miles, from the Keys to West Palm Beach, for nearly 18 hours.
—
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
At the Australian Open, the grounds were heaving and there were lengthy lines to get into smaller courts and for food and drink outlets.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Food and drink All-day restaurant Pure serves up a sprawling breakfast buffet complete with omelette and pancake stations, heaving tropical fruit platters, and baked goods galore, including Polynesian treats like coconut bread.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026
In photo after photo, video after video, North Shore residents are painted in mud, scraping it off driveways, sweeping it out of kitchens and heaving it into trucks along with their household debris.
—Thomas Heaton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
As the fugitive car careered along the narrow road, the passenger started heaving out hindquarters of venison.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
The feel of heaving the Mini’s wheel through tight corners, occasionally fighting kickback from the wide tires, gives way to a newfound finesse.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2026
The Iranian announcer was heaving.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 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
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
At the Australian Open, the grounds were heaving and there were lengthy lines to get into smaller courts and for food and drink outlets.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Food and drink All-day restaurant Pure serves up a sprawling breakfast buffet complete with omelette and pancake stations, heaving tropical fruit platters, and baked goods galore, including Polynesian treats like coconut bread.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026
In photo after photo, video after video, North Shore residents are painted in mud, scraping it off driveways, sweeping it out of kitchens and heaving it into trucks along with their household debris.
—Thomas Heaton, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
As the fugitive car careered along the narrow road, the passenger started heaving out hindquarters of venison.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
The feel of heaving the Mini’s wheel through tight corners, occasionally fighting kickback from the wide tires, gives way to a newfound finesse.
—Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2026
The Iranian announcer was heaving.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heaving
Verb
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Now the Hurricanes are on top of the NHL again, 20 years later, with Brind’Amour once more front and center hoisting the Stanley Cup.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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The videos show two men hoisting her above their heads and tossing her over the side of a bridge while a third man looks on.—
Alicia Victoria Lozano,
NBC news,
15 June 2026
Verb
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The pulses are designed to normalize the nerve messaging from the brain to the stomach to relieve symptoms of nausea and vomiting without side effects.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 June 2026
-
Later that night, Beanz started vomiting.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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But an array of issues ultimately lost La Roja the three points – and more worryingly, point towards some potentially bad habits that could cost this team a chance of lifting its second World Cup.—
Patrick Sung Cuadrado,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
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After all, Spain has failed to advance beyond the round of 16 since lifting the World Cup in 2010, winning just three games during that run.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
Verb
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The bear was completely oblivious to this crowd of people screaming and throwing things at it.—
Josh Rivera,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
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There is a real distinction between a city unified by five fine starting players in a game that originally involved throwing a ball into a peach basket and that, however improbably, became the city game, and the bloody display in the nation’s capital.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
Verb
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Dogs primarily regulate heat through panting and small sweat glands in their paw pads, according to the American Kennel Club.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
-
Signs include panting, a hoarse bark, scuffing or dragging their toes along the ground, and sometimes regurgitation or swallowing problems.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
Verb
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In 2017, Spanish police said a 6-year-old girl died and six other children were injured when an inflatable bouncy castle came free from its stakes and flew into the air in Caldes de Malavella, in northeastern Spain, hurling the children to the ground.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
-
Seemingly out of nowhere, people on the sidewalk joined her and started hurling objects at her.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
Verb
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The miscommunications have once again put the majority leader in a difficult position, raising questions about why the president seems intent on making his life more difficult.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
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Gordon said in kicking off his comments and raising a hand to reveal a rubber finger pad.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
Verb
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Martín Pérez was on the mound for the home team, a soft-tossing veteran lefty who was pumping in 89-mph sinkers.—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
20 June 2026
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During the opening match of the World Cup last week, some Mexico fans were seen tossing sombreros in delight as their team defeated the Republic of South Africa 2-0, but the hats might come in handy for the rest of the tournament.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heaving. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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