hew

verb

ˈhyü How to pronounce hew (audio)
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 Kim’s desk in the family room is hewn from maple with a top made by local ceramic artist Minseon Kim. — Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026 The ruins featured an elaborate system of water channels hewn from some three hundred tons of rock, running between a sculpture of a jaguar (or possibly a toad) and an enormous stone receptacle in the shape of a duck. — Kimon De Greef, Longreads, 4 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for hew
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hew
  1. mow
  2. adhere
  3. fell
  4. stick
  5. cling
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
Definition of mow
Verb
  • Scatter about half of panko mixture over, pressing in with your hands to adhere.
    — Jesse Szewczyk, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Kiko Milano Eyeshadow Stick’s formula fortunately adheres perfectly to the lids.
    — Laura Sandroni, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of adhere
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
Definition of fell
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
Definition of stick
Verb
  • Their next two opponents after the Phillies are the Chicago Cubs, who are a game behind the top NL Wild Card spot, and the Houston Astros clinging to a three-game lead in the AL West.
    — Jesús Cano, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Milk fats and proteins can also cling to silicone surfaces, especially if water does not directly reach the interior.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of cling

Phrases Containing hew

Browse Nearby Words

het up
hew
hewed
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Hew.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hew. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shofar

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All