Definition of hewnext
1
as in to mow
to bring down by cutting laboriously hewed trees to build their rude log cabins

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in to adhere
to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion decided to hew to the original plan rather than change everything

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 hew The plot hews closely to the Warner Bros film, which starred Prince and was directed by Albert Magnoli. Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 27 July 2026 The Iranian regime interpreted this as an existential threat and the ceasefire broke down on July 7 when Iran opened fire on vessels hewing closer to the Omani shoreline. Jordan Blum, Fortune, 18 July 2026 Broadway touring shows bring a close-to-original experience to your city, with the caveat that first national tours tend to hew closer to the original than later legs. Lauren Schuster, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026 And unlike policies like Universal Basic Income, this strategy hews more closely to American values. Gene Sperling, Time, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hew
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hew
Verb
  • Having a healthy lawn means managing soil conditions for the roots, mowing properly, and strengthening the density of the grass by overseeding.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The nonprofit also found Lindemann parking personal vehicles in its lot, mowing its lawn, and planting shrubs, according to the suit.
    Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Kiko Milano Eyeshadow Stick’s formula fortunately adheres perfectly to the lids.
    Laura Sandroni, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Repeat guests begin wrapping their feet with tape and adhering gel pads to prevent blisters.
    Johanna Wolfe, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The goal came after Furuhashi got loose on a breakaway up the middle of the pitch, only to be felled by New England’s Will Sands in the center of the box, leaving referee Drew Fischer with an easy penalty call.
    Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Mosaic terrazzo floors with a palm motif are nods to both Tiberius’s villas here and the Ethiopian palm that once stood like an icon outside the hotel, which was felled by a storm in the 1960s.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Jerry could easily be a caricature of a pretentious artiste stuck overseeing anonymous regional theater productions.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Stubborn and stuck in the past have been thrown around, but Swinney has started to change and engage the transfer portal, bringing in 15 transfers this offseason after adding four the year before and zero in 2024.
    Seth Emerson, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Here was this fit, so daring and so specific, that clung to the curves of our legs like cellophane.
    Jane Herman, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Gammer says the Williston Lake island seems to be intact and clinging to the shoreline—at least for now.
    Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 2 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Hew.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hew. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster