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

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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 Notably, Nolan’s film hews closer to the epic tradition than Troy due to its inclusion of the supernatural and the gods, which were excised from Peterson’s film. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 22 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
  1. mow
  2. adhere
  3. fell
  4. stick
  5. cling
Verb
  • The workers are in the district’s landscape maintenance, conservation and experiential programming, fleet and facilities departments — clearing roads, mowing lawns, cleaning buildings, maintaining trails and emptying trash cans.
    — A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The solution is to set your mower blade to the highest setting and mow regularly.
    — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of mow
Verb
  • Lightly brush the salmon fillets with the mustard and top with the panko/Parmesan mixture, pressing down lightly to adhere.
    — Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Ashford acknowledged that the agency has to adhere strictly to its cleanup plans but said in some cases, like an industrial site near a residential area, the EPA may clean up to a lower level to prevent recontamination.
    — Chris Bowling, ProPublica, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of adhere
Verb
  • Mixed Pro Doubles Recap Roos van Reek & Jack Munro stayed out of trouble and avoided the early knockout round upsets that be felled many of the other top seeds to claim the Mixed title and guarantee the double-double for themselves on the weekend.
    — Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The storm felled trees and power lines and caused serious flooding that swept some 100 homes from their foundations on the Big Island, authorities said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of fell
Verb
  • For the past few years, Florida’s housing market has been stuck in a strange kind of standoff.
    — Justin Onorato, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Symptoms include eye pain, a sensation of something being stuck in the eye, watering, light sensitivity, redness, irritation and blurred or clouded vision.
    — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of stick
Verb
  • At the landing zone, with bullets whipping and cracking around them, Capers—barely clinging to consciousness—refused to board the helicopter until every last man, and his dog’s body, was aboard.
    — Ethan Rocke, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Any empty feeling at Empty Sky Caution tape clings to a fence outside the memorial, which honors the 749 New Jersey residents killed on 9/11.
    — Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of cling

Phrases Containing hew

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het up
hew
hewed
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Cite this Entry

“Hew.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hew. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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