heel 1 of 2

Definition of heelnext

heel

2 of 2

verb

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

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
Noun
The deal follows on the heels of two major deals in the residential brokerage industry last year. Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026 The star accessorized the look, meanwhile, with a giant pearl bag by Cult Gaia, as well as a pearl necklace and chic slingback heels. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 27 Apr. 2026 That’s because pressing down on the ground with the heel can generate backward momentum, requiring the runner to use more energy to propel themselves forward. Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 27 Apr. 2026 The news comes on the heels of Epic Pictures having released the film theatrically in North America on April 24, with a VOD release set for Monday. Alex Ritman, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heel
Verb
  • The hole should have sloping sides to encourage roots to grow out wide into the surrounding soil.
    Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The quick loss of water is even more evident in areas with banks, sloping lawns, and those with lots of hardscaping like walkways.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There’s an almost-friendship-ending rift over husbands (Brent Thiessen is Cee Cee’s, a cool-guy theater director; Ben Jacoby is Bertie’s, a rich jerk) that feels deeply dated and, in the context of the women’s tell-each-other-everything friendship, just plain weird.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The jerk chicken is rubbed in a sweet honey glaze.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Republicans, meanwhile, hated everything that Democrats loved about Obama and often tilted into grotesque smears.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • About 1 in 6 households nationwide has a net worth above $1 million, and, because the occasional billionaire tilts the scale, the average American family has passed that seven-figure benchmark.
    Matthew Lynn, Washington Post, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In recent years, Ed Sheeran slipped behind the counter, gamely slinging dogs and taking his fair share of abuse from the staff.
    Jimmy Jellinek, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
  • During the day, McKinley Park is filled with activity, from dog walkers and joggers to families enjoying the outdoors.
    Conor McGill, CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Sushi cases are angled towards customers without a sneeze guard.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado April 24, Sacbee.com, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Young couples angle for a spot at Sunset Bar.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • There’s some Streisand, too, and a big dose of Andrea Martin, specifically Martin’s signature SCTV character Edith Prickley, that bawdy, gawdy ham with all the bravado of a Catskills clown.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Once completed, the $5 million acquisition will ensure the theater has a permanent home, a place where skateboarding clowns and leek-haired onions can continue to frolic and dance for decades to come.
    Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The Ventura County Fire Department said the woman was walking along Long Canyon Trail in Wood Ranch when the snake bit her.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 1 May 2026
  • The copperhead snake is the most common and prevalent venomous snake in the state, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's website.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • Only about 30 percent of all nests evade their many predators, including skunks, opossums, raccoons, coyotes, snakes, and even domestic dogs and cats.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 Apr. 2026
  • That means don’t send your dog out to charge a skunk, and don’t go outside banging on pots and pans or yelling, which is only going to make the skunk feel threatened.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Heel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heel. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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