as in fences
a physical object that blocks the way
the messenger was confronted with a hedge of spears held aloft by the castle guards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in weasels
to avoid giving a definite answer or position
kept hedging whenever asked for an opinion on the matter
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in houses
to close or shut in by or as if by barriers
the prison was hedged by a high stone wall
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 hedges
Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
Outside, olive trees and lush landscaping create an oasis for residents to enjoy, while ficus hedges offer a sense of privacy.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Set the scene The streets of Forte—as insiders call it—are a maze of tall box hedges and gates that shelter private villas built for wealthy and aristocratic Italian families.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
The developer also agreed to expand the lake and add landscaping like hedges that will protect the nesting site.
—Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, said costs pressures will continue as the year progress, adding that airlines are unlikely to lock in new fuel hedges at current high prices amid ongoing uncertainty.
—Hugh Leask, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
The street where Burke lived had security gates at nearly every driveway and privacy hedges interspersed between palm trees.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Grow compact varieties as hedges, and prune larger, more open varieties into small trees.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
The hedges will start unwinding towards the end of the summer, however, potentially pushing higher costs onto fares.
—Shashwat Awasthi, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Below the threshold, AI hedges your brand or ignores it.
—Jason Barnard, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2026
Royal Caribbean, which hedges roughly 60% of its fuel costs, was less affected than Norwegian and Carnival.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Newsom hedges his bets by portraying the budget as a placeholder that covers little more than spending increases driven by law, inflation and caseload until more revenue data are received.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
Newsom hedges his bets by portraying the budget as a placeholder that covers little more than spending increases driven by law, inflation and caseload until more revenue data are received.
—Dan Walters, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
Michelle Boudreau Design mixed a white dividing wall with hedges that don't block the view of palm trees in this desert backyard.
—Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
Outside, olive trees and lush landscaping create an oasis for residents to enjoy, while ficus hedges offer a sense of privacy.
—Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Set the scene The streets of Forte—as insiders call it—are a maze of tall box hedges and gates that shelter private villas built for wealthy and aristocratic Italian families.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
The developer also agreed to expand the lake and add landscaping like hedges that will protect the nesting site.
—Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, said costs pressures will continue as the year progress, adding that airlines are unlikely to lock in new fuel hedges at current high prices amid ongoing uncertainty.
—Hugh Leask, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
The street where Burke lived had security gates at nearly every driveway and privacy hedges interspersed between palm trees.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Grow compact varieties as hedges, and prune larger, more open varieties into small trees.
—Patricia S York, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2026
The hedges will start unwinding towards the end of the summer, however, potentially pushing higher costs onto fares.
—Shashwat Awasthi, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
Neville hedges his bet by filling us in on Michaels’ spotlight apprehension, making his reticence a through line.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Below the threshold, AI hedges your brand or ignores it.
—Jason Barnard, Rolling Stone, 6 Apr. 2026
Royal Caribbean, which hedges roughly 60% of its fuel costs, was less affected than Norwegian and Carnival.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Newsom hedges his bets by portraying the budget as a placeholder that covers little more than spending increases driven by law, inflation and caseload until more revenue data are received.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
Newsom hedges his bets by portraying the budget as a placeholder that covers little more than spending increases driven by law, inflation and caseload until more revenue data are received.
—Dan Walters, Oc Register, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hedges
Noun
-
Don’t doubt Riley and the Heat’s ability to swing for the fences.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Hanging a bar of soap is the simplest method and is ideal for gardens with trees, shrubs, and fences.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In North Carolina, much of the institute’s money flows through the state’s Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, which houses the Library of North Carolina.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Thousands of photographs and historical documents are stored in archives and the collections section of the museum houses an assortment of memorabilia.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For Chelsea Bennett, a mother of two from Florida, those moments often echo through the walls of her home at night, carried by the unmistakable sound of her 9-year-old daughter, Kennedy, singing her heart out in the shower.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Colossal heads, with luminous faces – intense and inscrutable – line the walls of Jenny Saville's studio in Oxford, England.—
Elizabeth Palmer,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Places like Los Angeles and Oakland have high permit fees and strict zoning that often confines cans to industrial areas.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
9 Feb. 2026
-
In an industry that often confines its actors, especially women and especially Black women, Hall continues to carve a path defined by risk, depth and courage.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
14 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Aid agencies say Israeli security restrictions have tied their hands, creating difficult security barriers that have limited the influx of aid.—
Matt Bradley,
NBC news,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Other good view barriers for privacy might include the edible olive, pineapple guava, Simpson stopper, Walter’s viburnum, podocarpus and clumping bamboo.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Chaotic scene unfolded minutes after gala began The shooting at the security barricades happened minutes after the event got underway.—
Eric Tucker,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The city says barricades were moved without authorization, and the bridge won’t officially open until early May.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hedges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hedges. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
