HOIST Synonyms: 102 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

hoist 1 of 2

verb

ˈhȯist

Definition of hoist

as in to heave

to lift with effort dockworkers hoisted all 164 barrels of molasses out of the ship's hold when it arrived in port

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to lift

to move from a lower to a higher place or position hoisted the flag on the flagpole

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to sip

to swallow in liquid form I have time to hoist a couple beers before heading home

Synonyms & Similar Words

hoist

2 of 2

noun

as in raising

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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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

Gogebic County Sheriff's Office The Gogebic County Search and Rescue Team located the two and hoisted them to safety, with only minor injuries resulting. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 The wreckage of the Piper 30A was hoisted from the water on Sunday morning. — Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026

Noun

Under extreme conditions the aircrew successfully completed a hoist and safely transported the hiker to emergency medical services. — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 25 June 2026 Scott designed and built the specialized hoist system used to lift turtles over the pier railing. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for hoist

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoist

Verb

The Smith experience is always going to be a roller coaster, impressive feats of accuracy and arm talent mixed with desperation heaves and maddening turnovers.

— Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
The Dream missed their final shot, Clark grabbed the rebound and alertly heaved the ball to the other end of the court to run out the remaining few seconds.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of heave

Verb

But the flood of money is also lifting stocks in tech, infrastructure, energy, and construction, delivering gains across generations.

— Jason Ma, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Latest drone footage from CCTV shows rescue workers using lifting equipment in an attempt to restore and rebuild a road by the turbulent currents and in between the towering mountains.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of lift

Verb

Somewhere on a porch in rural Tennessee, the late Dolly Parton may have held up a dainty martini glass, sipping away as the orange sun set behind the Great Smokies.

— Angela George, USA TODAY, 28 Aug. 2026
But at one Caribbean resort, guests can now sip frosty drinks by the pool, enjoy long dinners outdoors, or watch sunsets from the sand—all without swatting away mosquitoes.

— Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of sip

Verb

This comes after shares of Target spiked last Wednesday after the retailer reported second-quarter top- and bottom-line gains and raised its outlook for the year.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
If passed, the USPS will raise rates by an average of 6% for retail and commercial USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and Parcel Select shipments, according to the USPS press release.

— Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of raise

Verb

Most are men between the ages of 18 and 49, without a college degree, earning less than $50,000 a year, less religious than average, and likely to also drink alcohol.

— Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Food and drink Three meals a day—included in the rate, except for alcohol—are served in the main lodge, with every group being assigned the same table during their stay.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of drink

Noun

Alexandria Sheriff's Office via AP Flight 103 was 31,000 feet over Lockerbie when a bomb in the plane's forward cargo area exploded 38 minutes after takeoff from London Heathrow Airport.

— CBS News, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Archer plans to use its Midnight electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for the service.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of takeoff

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hoi polloi

hoist

hoisted

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“Hoist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoist. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of hoist

verb

noun

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