hewed

past tense of hew
1
as in mowed
to bring down by cutting laboriously hewed trees to build their rude log cabins

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in adhered
to hold to something firmly as if by adhesion decided to hew to the original plan rather than change everything

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 hewed His tenure lasted until 1962, during which time he was joined by the notable poet and critic Edwin Denby, whose work hewed rather firmly to criticism. Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Apr. 2026 Like many cities in the report, Dallas also actually saw a year-over-year effective salary bump, likely because of slightly lower effective tax rates and living costs that have hewed closer to the national average. Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026 The Biden administration hewed closely to the same policy. ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026 Independents hewed more closely to the Democratic view with 76% disapproving and 24% approving. Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 25 Feb. 2026 The Biden administration hewed closely to the same policy. CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026 San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, the newest major candidate to enter the race, hewed toward partisan middle ground, chastising leaders in Sacramento for allowing the state budget to balloon without tangible improvements to housing affordability, homelessness and public schools. Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026 In the ensuing years, Wu publicly hewed harder into right-wing talking points about trans people. Samantha Riedel, Them., 3 Nov. 2025 The two bills that emerged, Senate Bill 840 and Assembly Bill 1207, hewed closer to Newsom’s vision. Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hewed
Verb
  • To help prevent borers, keep weedy areas around the garden mowed well.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 17 June 2026
  • The lawn around the pond had been mowed without anybody picking up the trash beforehand.
    Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • The report found that excessive moisture had caused the adhesive to fail, leaving the roofing membrane no longer properly adhered, according to the lawsuit.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026
  • Once adhered properly, my press-ons last through the wear and tear of everyday life—on keyboards, NYC subway poles, and even at the gym.
    Amanda Le, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Her face looked drawn, her eyes cast down, and her two-year-old granddaughter, Josephine, clung tightly to her side.
    Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 13 June 2026
  • The Spurs clung to a seven-point lead at halftime, setting up a back-and-forth second half and a tight fourth quarter.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • Messi stuck a boot back, corralled the ball, took a half-turn and fired a laser low and into the corner of the net past Zidane.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
  • Fans who bought parking passes got stuck in heavy traffic as the streets around the stadium were bumper-to-bumper by mid-afternoon.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hewed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hewed. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on hewed

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster