as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
felt like a heel when she found out that she'd blamed the wrong person
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to slope
to set or cause to be at an angle
the strong gust heeled the sailboat almost to the point of capsizing, but we managed to right it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 heel
Dana Santas, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
They’re designed with low tops, round toes, and a flat heel, and the rubber cup soles add plenty of comfort for every occasion.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025
The state inquiry, which is in its early, information-gathering stages, comes on the heels of a USA TODAY investigation in August that revealed how the professional sports franchise monopolized every level of amateur hockey in Texas, from preschoolers to adults.
—Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The Euphoria alum, 28, posed for photographers at the Academy Women’s Luncheon in a tight, ruched hot-pink dress bare legs, and black heels.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heel
Noun
Short-foot activation Stand barefoot and gently press your toes into the floor while drawing the ball of your foot slightly toward your heel, creating a subtle arch.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
They’re designed with low tops, round toes, and a flat heel, and the rubber cup soles add plenty of comfort for every occasion.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 6 Nov. 2025
The state inquiry, which is in its early, information-gathering stages, comes on the heels of a USA TODAY investigation in August that revealed how the professional sports franchise monopolized every level of amateur hockey in Texas, from preschoolers to adults.
—Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
The Euphoria alum, 28, posed for photographers at the Academy Women’s Luncheon in a tight, ruched hot-pink dress bare legs, and black heels.
—Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for heel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heel
Verb
-
That’s especially true of the Princeton museum, a jangling grid of gray concrete boxes set into the sloping campus.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Out back, the car’s roofline sloped towards the tail at a shallower angle than ever, almost giving the big car a fastback look.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Dig into Caribbean jerk chicken pizza at Blackstone Pub downtown or savor a few slices topped with spicy meatballs and peppadews served with a waterfront view at Little Bridge Marina’s Pizza Kitchen.—
Jennifer Stewart Kornegay,
Southern Living,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Gave the two jerks her very best.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Democrats tilted five seats their way in California.—
NPR,
NPR,
6 Nov. 2025
-
It was also tilted with respect to the plane of the galaxy.—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Choose a crate that is a comfortable size for your dog.—
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
9 Nov. 2025
-
The stretchy fabric allows for a full range of motion and remains in place through every downward dog and tree pose.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
From here Cathedral Rock Trail steepens dramatically, shinnying up rock faces, angling from ledge to ledge.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
When patterns show which angles hold attention and which intros lose readers early, teams can refine headlines, add context boxes, and improve internal links so coverage feels useful and easy to follow.—
Malana VanTyler,
Ascend Agency,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The sibling filmmaking duo spent most of the 2010s making a colossal two-part movie adaptation of King’s 1,138-page horror opus about a shapeshifting clown who terrorizes the small town of Derry, Maine.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The woman dressed as a spooky ringmaster while her husband played the part of a creepy clown.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Martha says, waving a smoking censer back and forth over the golden flowers that snake from the garden gate into the parlor of her childhood home.—
Rocío Muñoz-Ledo,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Take shelter or run in a snake but do not forget other threats.—
Carolyn Forché,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Rodents, possums, and skunks show up to snack on the flesh and seeds.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
-
While striped skunk is edible, Coalition Brewing warns against its strong odor, scavenger diet and susceptibility to parasites.—
Stuart Dyos,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Heel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heel. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share