1
: one that cleaves
especially
: a butcher's implement for cutting animal carcasses into joints or pieces
2
: a prehistoric stone tool having a sharp edge at one end
Examples of cleaver in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The House version of the bill, if it's embraced by the Senate, would bring a cleaver down on a great big pile of those carrots.
—
Camila Domonoske, NPR, 3 June 2025
Guns, knives, swords, cleavers, axes, ice picks and flamethrowers will all be put to use in this tale of a revenge.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN Money, 1 June 2025
Then along came President Donald Trump and his cleaver.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 24 May 2025
Metal pipes, cleavers, champagne bottles, and Uzis are all in the mix.
—Mike Miller, EW.com, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cleaver
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Camila Domonoske, NPR, 3 June 2025
Guns, knives, swords, cleavers, axes, ice picks and flamethrowers will all be put to use in this tale of a revenge.
—Andrew Torgan, CNN Money, 1 June 2025
Then along came President Donald Trump and his cleaver.
—Editorial, Boston Herald, 24 May 2025
Metal pipes, cleavers, champagne bottles, and Uzis are all in the mix.
—Mike Miller, EW.com, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cleaver
Cite this Entry
“Cleaver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleaver. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cleaver
noun
cleav·er
ˈklē-vər 
: a heavy knife with a wide blade
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