heap 1 of 2

noun

ˈhēp How to pronounce heap (audio)
Definition of heapnext
1
as in loads
a considerable amount she always has a heap of good ideas you're in a heap of trouble for missing curfew!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pile
a quantity of things thrown or stacked on one another found her shoe under a heap of clothes on the floor

Synonyms & Similar Words

heap

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to lavish
to give readily and in large quantities the critics heaped scorn on the wannabe blockbuster and its implausible plot

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stack
to lay or throw on top of one another heaped the stones in a corner of the yard

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to fill
to put into (something) as much as can be held or contained heaped her plate with spaghetti

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 heap
Noun
Still, Watts offered a generous heap of the powder to Sinclair, who readily accepted. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026 Another day, another data center controversy to add to the ever-growing heap. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
And, in fact, for all of the shock value in his writing and swipes at the food establishment, Bourdain became extraordinarily generous and even sweet as his fame grew, quick to heap praise, especially for writers and chefs on the rise. — Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 All of this good fortune heaped a mountain of pressure on Burke, who was then living in Virginia and working as an associate editor at Katie Couric Media, a fast-churning life-style site that traffics primarily in wellness and shopping content. — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for heap
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heap
  1. loads
  2. pile
  3. lavish
  4. stack
  5. fill
  6. ton
  7. pour
  8. pack
Noun
  • Instead, Hongqi said the solar roof could help supply lower-voltage electrical loads, including air conditioning, refrigerators and the vehicle’s sentry or monitoring systems.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Together, Jaybush, Brad Chambers, and the American Heavy Moving team figured out a route through the city that avoided street trees, tight turns, and roads that run above old, fragile sewer pipes, which aren’t rated for heavy loads.
    — Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of loads
Noun
  • The government still has not come up with a solution to the mountainous piles of rotting garbage that accumulate on the streets for months.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Cole went online, bought Steiffs by the piles, and lined the shelves of King’s bedroom.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of pile
Verb
  • The ceremony can be found on YouTube and includes Gloria Steinem lavishing the character with praise.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Altman had been making note of Kushner’s investment in founders at splashy startups, including Slack, Instacart, and payment giant Stripe—staying loyal and lavishing them with attention even during rocky stretches.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of lavish
Verb
  • As the house begins to rise, the crew stacks wooden cribbing, like Lincoln Logs, into pillars underneath, to help support the structure.
    — Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Roy takes a literal approach to the assignment by stacking one date on top of another at the same classy nightspot.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of stack
Verb
  • Similar to the Army, SAE was filled with young men from all walks of life; every economic background, faith, and ethnicity were represented.
    — Todd Buchanan, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Their vehicles are packed with animal triage kits filled with supplies to treat injuries and wounds.
    — Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of fill
Noun
  • One of the rentable rooms is the bank vault, which still has its six-ton door and reinforced concrete walls.
    — Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Last year, the Swiss village of Blatten was completely buried after a glacier collapsed, sending millions of tons of ice and rock down mountainside.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of ton
Verb
  • Over the next several decades, Mexican American families poured in and set down roots.
    — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Mix yeast, 2 cups flour and salt in large mixing bowl and pour in hot water (not boiling), mixing well.
    — Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of pour
Verb
  • Available in 12 colors, these jeans pack a ton of versatility.
    — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026
  • High-Protein Nuts and Seeds Nuts and seeds are packed with protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals.
    — Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of pack

Browse Nearby Words

healthy
heap
heaped
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Heap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heap. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All