heeling

verb

present participle of heel
as in tilting
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

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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 heeling In order to keep the lightweight watercraft from heeling over completely, crew members frantically scurry back and forth onto planks that are suspended out above the water on each side, rising and falling like seasick seesaws. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heeling
  1. tilting
  2. sloping
  3. leaning
  4. angling
Verb
  • As the seasons change and the Northern Hemisphere starts tilting away from the sun, the northern latitudes lose daylight much faster than southern latitudes.
    — Zoe Mintz, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • This six-seat configuration allows drivers to keep car seats for young children undisturbed since additional passengers can access the third row without tilting the second down.
    — Charles Singh, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of tilting
Verb
  • Retaining Walls If your sloping backyard is over 45 degrees, adding retaining walls is almost necessary to prevent the soil from washing away.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Cut at a 45-degree angle, sloping down toward the center of the rosebush.
    — Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of sloping
Verb
  • Trump may be taking a risk by leaning into this more, though, because Democrats may be dissuaded by his close involvement in the bill.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Recent polls showed the liberal-leaning Yabloko could have won seats in the parliamentary elections next month.
    — Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of leaning
Verb
  • The trio began angling to turn the crazy tale into a documentary.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
  • But what’s been clear through one week of camp is that the players angling for extensions have made strong early impressions.
    — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of angling

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heeled
heeling
heels
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Cite this Entry

“Heeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heeling. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on heeling

Nglish: Translation of heeling for Spanish Speakers

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