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hoist

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb hoist contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of hoist are boost, elevate, heave, lift, raise, and rear. While all these words mean "to move from a lower to a higher place or position," hoist implies lifting something heavy especially by mechanical means.

hoisted the cargo on board

When is it sensible to use boost instead of hoist?

The words boost and hoist are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, boost suggests assisting to climb or advance by a push.

boosted his brother over the fence

How does the word elevate relate to other synonyms for hoist?

Elevate may replace lift or raise especially when exalting or enhancing is implied.

elevated the taste of the public

When could heave be used to replace hoist?

In some situations, the words heave and hoist are roughly equivalent. However, heave implies lifting and throwing with great effort or strain.

heaved the heavy crate inside

When is lift a more appropriate choice than hoist?

The synonyms lift and hoist are sometimes interchangeable, but lift usually implies exerting effort to overcome resistance of weight.

lift the chair while I vacuum

Where would raise be a reasonable alternative to hoist?

The meanings of raise and hoist largely overlap; however, raise carries a stronger implication of bringing up to the vertical or to a high position.

scouts raising a flagpole

How are the words rear and raise related as synonyms of hoist?

Rear may add an element of suddenness to raise.

suddenly reared itself up on its hind legs

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 hoist
Verb
More than 275,000 layoffs were reported last month — hoisted largely by cuts to the federal workforce from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 3 Apr. 2025 Torrey Pines has hoisted the plaque seven times, Poway and La Costa Canyon twice each. Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
As the hoist is removed, the last sections of the exterior glass facade will be installed to enclose the building on Woodward Avenue downtown. Annalise Frank, Axios, 16 Oct. 2024 Trending Seen another way, though, this is simply confirmation that the song’s chart success was not a reflection of any artistic merit but rather an unfortunate case of liberal media being hoist with its own petard. Will Groff, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for hoist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoist
Verb
  • The woman is violently subdued by orderlies, stripped naked and heaved under the showerhead.
    Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Will any of these managers ever get heaved out of a game again?
    Jayson Stark, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Firefighters had to call in a crane to lift the dump truck off the Ford Ranger.
    Frank Fernandez, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The obliging royalty would lift their hems and give the crowd a glimpse of their sneakers and cowboy boots.
    Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Hidden in London’s West End, the brasserie-style dining room is always buzzing while guests sip on bubbles and listen to live jazz.
    Rachel Dube, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Then, later in the day, Kesha seemed to support the recommendation by posting a photo of herself smirking while sipping from a Wendy’s cup.
    Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • At the same time, these updates raise questions about the Oscars broadcast itself.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 11 Apr. 2025
  • The incident with Lauren had understandably raised questions on whether Weezer’s set would still happen.
    Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Get news about destinations, plus the latest in aviation, food and drink, and where to stay.
    Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2025
  • The midshipmen poured water into the cup, taking turns drinking from it in a victory celebration.
    Tyrone Turner, NPR, 12 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Think of it like a pre-flight checklist: without it, takeoff (or, in this case, sleep) is shaky at best.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
  • As Blue Origin readies for its first all-female flight to space, not everyone is anxiously awaiting takeoff.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • That meant, gulp, 11 hot dogs had to be consumed in the game, which lasted 2 hours, 33 minutes.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Papa uses this moment to gulp the wine in Elijah's cup.
    Holly Rizzuto Palker, Parents, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Seven months later, playing for Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Carter capped his year of levitation by jumping over France’s 7-2 center, Frederic Weis, en route to a violent, yet somehow, also, elegant, slam in a preliminary round game.
    Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025
  • The University of Virginia (UVA) School of Engineering and Applied Science is taking a major step in ultra-high-temperature ceramics research by establishing a pioneering electromagnetic levitation (EML) system.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hoist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoist. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

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