HOIST Synonyms: 102 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'hoist' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of hoist are boost , elevate , heave , lift , raise , and rear . While all these words mean "to move from a lower to a higher place or position," hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means. // hoisted the cargo on board

Q: When is it sensible to use 'boost' instead of 'hoist'?

The words boost and hoist are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push. // boosted his brother over the fence

Q: How does the word 'elevate' relate to other synonyms for 'hoist'?

Elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied. // elevated the taste of the public

Q: When could 'heave' be used to replace 'hoist'?

In some situations, the words heave and hoist are roughly equivalent. However, heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain. // heaved the heavy crate inside

Q: When is 'lift' a more appropriate choice than 'hoist'?

The synonyms lift and hoist are sometimes interchangeable, but lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight. // lift the chair while I vacuum

Q: Where would 'raise' be a reasonable alternative to 'hoist'?

The meanings of raise and hoist largely overlap; however, raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position. // scouts raising a flagpole

Q: How are the words 'rear' and 'raise' related as synonyms of 'hoist'?

Rear may add an element of suddenness to raise . // suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

hoist 1 of 2

verb

ˈhȯist

Definition of hoist

as in to heave

to lift with effort dockworkers hoisted all 164 barrels of molasses out of the ship's hold when it arrived in port

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to lift

to move from a lower to a higher place or position hoisted the flag on the flagpole

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to sip

to swallow in liquid form I have time to hoist a couple beers before heading home

Synonyms & Similar Words

hoist

2 of 2

noun

as in raising

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb hoist contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of hoist are boost, elevate, heave, lift, raise, and rear. While all these words mean "to move from a lower to a higher place or position," hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

When is it sensible to use boost instead of hoist?

The words boost and hoist are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

How does the word elevate relate to other synonyms for hoist?

Elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied.

elevated the taste of the public

When could heave be used to replace hoist?

In some situations, the words heave and hoist are roughly equivalent. However, heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

When is lift a more appropriate choice than hoist?

The synonyms lift and hoist are sometimes interchangeable, but lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight.

lift the chair while I vacuum

Where would raise be a reasonable alternative to hoist?

The meanings of raise and hoist largely overlap; however, raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position.

scouts raising a flagpole

How are the words rear and raise related as synonyms of hoist?

Rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.

suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

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 hoist

Verb

The Brewers need to win just one more game in order to hoist the trophy. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026 Footage shared by Disney showed Calfuccino being hoisted by crane onto the roof of The Seas with Nemo & Friends before being carefully lowered into a pool behind the scenes. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2026

Noun

Meanwhile, the Colorado Search and Rescue Association began coordinating the hoist rescue. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026 Texas Department of Public Safety — Texas Highway Patrol troopers, helicopters with hoist capability and the Tactical Marine Unit. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for hoist

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoist

Verb

Mahomes sprinted to his right to avoid pressure and, a split-second before falling out of bounds, heaved a pass that somehow hit Tyreek Hill in stride for 48 yards.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
On fourth-and-21 in the second overtime, Seminoles quarterback Ashton Daniels heaved the ball into the end zone and it was caught by Micahi Danzy for a touchdown — one that was called back after a holding call that Florida State felt didn't exist.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of heave

Verb

Chen stepped up and recorded two consecutive kills to lift the Panthers to a three-point win in the final set.

— Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
At the same time, other parts of the economy are already being hit by higher rates, which were lifted by market forces, even before the Fed hiked last month.

— Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of lift

Noun

After those losses, the state experienced a drop in fund-raising and an exodus of campaign talent.

— Jesús Rodríguez, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2026
And a securities filing Wednesday makes clear that such an event could be coming, and that the scale of the fund-raising in the coming years may be more than some investors initially thought.

— Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of raising

Verb

Andy’s view The prospect of steep losses for Republicans in today’s midterms and the lame-duck presidency that ensues regardless raise a fundamental question about the outlook for a budding US-China détente.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2026
In one video, Basabe appears to raise his voice at a man before turning around and shouting at a woman.

— Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of raise

Verb

Observed employees drinking coffee by the sushi area who changed their gloves but didn’t wash their hands before preparing sushi for customers’ orders.

— David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
Food and drink As with Chablé’s other properties, the food program is overseen by Jorge Vallejo, who helms Mexico City’s Quintonil (named as one of the world’s top 50 restaurants).

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of drink

Noun

Typically, accidents happen around takeoff or landing, according to Gorwitz, such as the Amazon cargo plane that skidded of the end of the runway in September at Miami International Airport, killing five people.

— Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026
In 2008, four people were killed when a Learjet 60 bound for Los Angeles crashed on takeoff from Columbia, South Carolina.

— Holly Yan, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of takeoff

Verb

Sang-woo, who’d previously refused to drink soju with Ho-seok and Mi-ok, gulps down a fifteen-hundred-dollar bottle of Gaja Chardonnay.

— E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
The customer gulps it down in a single stretch and drops it into a bin – visible proof of his relief, at least for this moment, from the sweltering heat.

— Light Oriye Tamunotonye, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of gulp

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hoi polloi

hoist

hoisted

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“Hoist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoist. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of hoist

verb

noun

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