hedge 1 of 2

noun

ˈhej How to pronounce hedge (audio)
Definition of hedgenext
as in fence
a physical object that blocks the way the messenger was confronted with a hedge of spears held aloft by the castle guards

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hedge

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to weasel
to avoid giving a definite answer or position kept hedging whenever asked for an opinion on the matter

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to house
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers the prison was hedged by a high stone wall

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 hedge
Noun
The tall ficus hedges that ensconced the prior edition are long gone. — Miami Herald, 13 July 2026 Gold primarily acts as a tail-risk hedge against financial stress, currency debasement, and geopolitical crises, rather than a consistent inflation hedge. — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Verb
Examples included media companies hedging risks tied to viewership, advertisers weighing how lucrative a sponsorship might be, or insurance companies impacted by ticket revenue. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026 For example, low-cost Irish airline Ryanair currently hedges 80% of its jet fuel costs, giving them a significant competitive advantage when fuel prices increase. — Tiago Ventura, Time, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hedge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hedge
  1. fence
  2. weasel
  3. house
  4. wall
  5. shake
  6. enclose
  7. barrier
  8. surround
Noun
  • The suspect allegedly attempted to flee again by jumping fences and ignoring the officers’ commands to stop, but was apprehended and placed in custody.
    — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 16 July 2026
  • The last little bit before Dadeland South is also unfinished and awaiting the end of station construction, so users must navigate a narrow alley between fences and then a maze of signs and traffic cones to reach it.
    — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
Definition of fence
Verb
  • From there, the Giants remained deadlocked in a 1-1 tie until the 10th, though San Francisco’s relievers had to weasel their way out of trouble to keep the game tied.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
  • After Felix invites him to his family’s palatial country house over summer break, Oliver weasels his way into their good graces and turns their world upside down.
    — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026
Definition of weasel
Verb
  • An inmate housed in the medical unit at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center near Elk Grove died early Tuesday after deputies found the person unresponsive in a cell, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
  • The bespoke trunk, and the coveted trophy housed inside, will make their way to the pitch for the first time at the final game of the competition, which takes place next Sunday in New Jersey.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 14 July 2026
Definition of house
Noun
  • If no shelter is available, crawl to an interior wall away from windows.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
  • Photos of personal belongings, like smartphones, left behind the bar on the night of fire adorned the walls.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 July 2026
Definition of wall
Verb
  • The question is whether Thompson will shake free from the Mavericks, either through a buyout or trade.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026
  • The wine and cocktail menu sports a few local makers too, including Gruet Winery’s sparkling wine and Hollow Spirits vodka, which is shaken into the restaurant’s take on a Vesper martini.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 July 2026
Definition of shake
Verb
  • Snow rooms, enclosed caverns of ice and snow, sometimes incorporating gently falling flakes, are the latest at-home flex for some of the world’s wealthiest, according to the New York Times.
    — Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 15 July 2026
  • Sometimes several families live enclosed within the same mass of turf.
    — Amelia Soth, JSTOR Daily, 15 July 2026
Definition of enclose
Noun
  • In France, youth sports are heavily subsidized by local municipalities and community groups, substantially lowering the barrier for entry.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
  • In an era where youth sports can cost parents thousands of dollars, a new no-cost league in the historic Northeast neighborhoods launched by the Kansas City Current aims to break down the financial barrier.
    — PJ Green July 11, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026
Definition of barrier
Verb
  • The surrounding province of Sistan and Baluchestan has also faced a yearslong insurgency by Sunni Baloch militant groups.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • Our latest UMass poll suggests that while there is division over the meaning of the 250th anniversary, there is nevertheless strong evidence that Americans are less divided than the politics surrounding the anniversary would suggest.
    — Adam Eichen, The Conversation, 14 July 2026
Definition of surround

Browse Nearby Words

hectors
hedge
hedged
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hedge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hedge. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on hedge

Nglish: Translation of hedge for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hedge

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All