as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
felt like a heel when she found out that she'd blamed the wrong person
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to slope
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
as in dogs
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
felt like a heel when she found out that she'd blamed the wrong person
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 heel
Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2025
At the end of the film, Sandy Olsson (played by the late, great Olivia Newton-John) emerges for the splashy closing number wearing a leather moto jacket, skintight sharkskin pants, and heels.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2025
New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2025
Nationwide, more than a dozen of these suits are now proceeding, with several coming on the heels of Schlep’s removal from the platform.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2025
Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for heel
Noun
The mother of two rocked a black blazer, sheer tights, and platform heels, while Cenat remained comfy in his Sixers jersey and house slides.
—Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2025
At the end of the film, Sandy Olsson (played by the late, great Olivia Newton-John) emerges for the splashy closing number wearing a leather moto jacket, skintight sharkskin pants, and heels.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
Reverse is as simple as pressing the lower half of the pedals with the heels.
—New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2025
Nationwide, more than a dozen of these suits are now proceeding, with several coming on the heels of Schlep’s removal from the platform.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
Emily Ratajkowski has put Paris Texas’ black patent Lidia heels on repeat in New York, pairing them with everything from vintage Gucci to a blazer and capris.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for heel
Cite this Entry
“Heel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heel. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share