HEELING Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

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

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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

Verb

Some Cardinals players were spotted in their dugout ahead of the game sporting crooked caps, and one player incorporated a slight hat-tilting motion into his post-hit celebration.

— Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
After liftoff, the V-2 started tilting midair and only made it to an altitude of 15,000 feet (4,600 meters) before falling back to Earth.

— Tariq Malik, Space.com, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of tilting

Verb

In 1947, French fashion designer Christian Dior debuted a curvy, hourglass style that emphasized a full bust, cinched waist, and sloping hips.

— April White, JSTOR Daily, 2 Sep. 2026
Though pictured largely unfurnished, the area looks well-proportioned, with room for a sofa and a coffee table, plus an entertainment center, even if those trademark sloping walls might make installing some furniture a little awkward.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of sloping

Verb

Alonso is leaning into Chelsea’s strength — the transitional attacking power of his front three — and working on protecting the weakness, giving up too much space for his team to defend.

— Jon Mackenzie, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Seen in profile or three-quarters from behind, the artist is seated, leaning toward the sheet.

— Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of leaning

Verb

On steep slopes, this mechanism also lets the ball control its downhill speed by simply angling the pendulum uphill.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2026
After a massive settlement with Meta, California’s attorney general is angling for broader changes to the social media industry.

— Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of angling

Browse Nearby Words

heeled

heeling

heels

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“Heeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heeling. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of heeling

verb

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