heels 1 of 2

plural of heel

heels

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of heel
as in slopes
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 heels
Noun
The shoes feature rich, espresso-brown see-through panels and supple suede along the trim on the heels’ topline. Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2025 This came on the heels of emails published on the Mail on Sunday that revealed Andrew’s ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, apologized to Epstein weeks after publicly disowning him, back in 2011. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 3 Nov. 2025 This win comes on the heels of a glowing three-star review by New York Times last month. Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2025 Coming on the heels of Thought Provoking, a 40-minute special that Barone self-released in April 2024, the hour will be directed by Ky Newman, taping at the Skirball in New York City on Thursday, March 19. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2025 The teamup comes on the heels of Smith being spotted playing solitaire on his phone during game 4 of the NBA finals, Oklahoma City vs the Indiana Pacers, in June 2025. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025 On the heels of her internet-breaking Maison Margiela porcelain-skin makeup, McGrath launched a limited edition Glass Skin Artistry Mask so fans could recreate the look at home. Tracee Ellis Ross, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2025 One look was an ultra-cinching sheer corset minidress paired with lace-up heels and the other was a Dilara Findikoglu design with a teeny beaded bra as a top. Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025 On the heels of her new pop comeback album, Demi Lovato is headed out on tour. Brian McCollum, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
Harlow opted for the Gianvito Rossi Diana heels. Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025 Amanu, the youngest, is the most experimental, wearing business casual ties and button downs one day and trying on a sequined dress and heels the next. Essence, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heels
Noun
  • Humans have a much larger neocortex than other animals, relative to body size, and the species with the largest neocortices—elephants, dolphins, gorillas, chimpanzees, dogs—are among the most intelligent.
    James Somers, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Humanoids, robotic dogs, and articulated arms don wigs, witch hats, and googly eyes, dancing under red and blue strobes.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, seawater intrudes like an advancing army toward thicker ice, which rests on bedrock that slopes inward toward the bowl-like center of the continent.
    Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Gave the two jerks her very best.
    Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Because even in a world of monsters, ghouls, and greedy jerks, the good guys still prevail.
    Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Endeavor features a centrifugal force spinning disk that tilts upwards.
    Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025
  • The seat tilts forward with the press of a button on the seat shoulder.
    James Raia, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • Beam angles set tile weights and can be positive or negative.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • By the mid 19th century, clowns were more central to circus entertainment, and their acts more risqué.
    Time, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The clowns come at you quickly at Fast Splash Car Wash in Detroit, Mich.
    Neda Ulaby, NPR, 27 Oct. 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
Noun
  • According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there are 44 species of native snakes in Florida, but just six are venomous.
    Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
  • But despite their comparatively small numbers, elapids like mambas, cobras, and rinkhals are among the world’s deadliest snakes.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 29 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heels.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heels. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on heels

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!