cleaver

noun

Definition of cleavernext
as in knife
a heavy implement with a wide sharp blade used for cutting up large pieces of meat

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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 cleaver The Los Angeles Times reported that Sharp is the son of Calvin Sharp, who pleaded guilty to the 2007 killing of a 6-year-old boy with a meat cleaver. — Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026 Critics say the law attempts to do this carving with a cleaver. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 9 Mar. 2026 The Ronald Reagan Building, added in 1998, looks a bit like a stumpy meat cleaver. — Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2026 No need to bust out the cleaver. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cleaver
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleaver
  1. knife
  2. cutter
  3. machete
  4. dagger
Noun
  • In that version of his death, he’s killed by a knife sent flying in his direction by Bellatrix Lestrange after rescuing Harry and his friends from Malfoy Manor.
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Writer-director Jesse Eisenberg (A Real Pain, NYFF62), who also wrote the show’s music and lyrics, keeps things expertly balanced on a knife’s edge between musical theater satire and cathartic character study.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of knife
Noun
  • To reseed your yard, or seed a new lawn, remove all existing grass and weeds at the root with a sod cutter.
    — Amanda Tust, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Cord cutters can check out DirecTV, Fox One, Fubo, Hulu, Peacock, Sling, and YouTube TV for these games.
    — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of cutter
Noun
  • Gay then allegedly returned to his vehicle and came back with a machete in its sheath.
    — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The handle was visible, and investigators observed blood on and around the machete, including on the blade.
    — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of machete
Noun
  • The dagger goal with which Gotham FC sunk the record-breaking KC Current in 2025 was out of the second phase of a set piece.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • The delivery apps offer discovery and delivery for their 15% to 30% cut—a useful (if brutally expensive) tool for a family-run shop and a dagger to the pizza chains who once stood out by offering those services in-house.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 20 July 2026
Definition of dagger

Browse Nearby Words

cleaved (to)
cleaver
cleavers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cleaver.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleaver. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cleaver

Nglish: Translation of cleaver for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cleaver

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