Heel — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈhēl/

Meaning & Definition of Heel

Heel (noun)

  1. the back of the human foot below the ankle and behind the arch
  2. the part of the hind limb of other vertebrates that is similar in structure to the human heel
  3. an anatomical structure suggestive of the human heel; especially, the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist
  4. a tilt (as of a boat) to one side; also, the extent of such a tilt

Heel (verb)

  1. to furnish (a boot, a shoe, etc.) with a solid attachment forming the part of the sole that is under the back of the foot, to attach a heel to
  2. to supply especially with money or information
  3. to exert pressure on, propel, or strike (someone or something) with the back part of the foot
  4. to lean to one side, tip; especially, of a boat or ship, to lean temporarily (as from the action of wind or waves)
  5. to cause (a boat) to lean to one side

Heel (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person whose behavior is offensive to others

    "felt like a heel when she found out that she'd blamed the wrong person"

    similar: bastard, beast, bleeder (British), blighter (chiefly British), boor, bounder, bugger, buzzard, cad, chuff, churl, clown, creep, cretin, crud (slang), crumb (slang), cur, dirtbag (slang), dog, fink, hound, jerk, joker, louse, lout, pill, rat, rat fink, reptile, rotter, schmuck (slang), scum, scumbag (slang), scuzzball (slang), skunk, sleaze, sleazebag (slang), sleazeball (slang), slime, slimeball (slang), slob, snake, so-and-so, sod (chiefly British), stinkard, stinker, swine, toad, varmint, vermin, son of a gun
    related: barbarian, brute, caveman, Neanderthal, savage, loudmouth, vulgarian, lowlife, miscreant, rascal, rogue, roughneck, scab, scamp, scoundrel, villain, wretch, booby, doofus (slang), fool, jackass, nincompoop, ninny, nit (chiefly British), nitwit, nut, schmo (slang), airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, dink (slang), dolt, dope, dork (slang), goon, half-wit, idiot, imbecile, moron, turkey, brat, insolent, nuisance, pest, snip, snob, snoot, snot, dweeb (slang), nerd
    near: hero, heroine, idol, role model, gentleman, lady, angel, saint

Heel (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to set or cause to be at an angle

    "the strong gust heeled the sailboat almost to the point of capsizing, but we managed to right it"

    similar: angle, cant, cock, incline, lean, list, pitch, slant, slope, tilt, tip
    related: bank, bend, deviate, swerve, veer, decline, descend, recline, retreat
    near: even, flatten, level, straighten

Related Entry: Achilles' heel (noun)

Achilles' heel is a different word from Heel. The synonyms below are for Achilles' heel, not for heel.

  1. a vulnerable point

    "the food supply proved to be the nation's Achilles' heel in its defense against terrorist attacks"

    similar: back, chink, jugular, soft spot, underbelly
    related: downfall, ruin, undoing, hamartia, tragic flaw

Related Entry: Down-at-the-heels (adjective)

Down-at-the-heels is a different word from Heel. The synonyms below are for down-at-the-heels, not for heel.

  1. showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect

    "the stately mansion where he lives now is a far cry from the down-at-the-heels triple-decker in which he grew up"

    similar: beat-up, bombed-out, dilapidated, dog-eared, dumpy, grungy, mangy, mean, miserable, moth-eaten, neglected, ratty, run-down, scrubby, scruffy, seedy, shabby, sleazy, tacky, tatterdemalion, tatty, threadbare, timeworn, tumbledown, gone to seed
    related: abandoned, unkept, desolate, forlorn, godforsaken, broken-down, decrepit, tired, worn-out, bedraggled, dingy, ragged, tattered, decaying, deteriorated, deteriorating, rackety, ramshackle, rattletrap, rickety, broken, damaged, destroyed, harmed, hurt, impaired, injured, ruined, wrecked
    near: brand-new, fresh, new, cared-for, kept-up, maintained, mended, patched, rebuilt, reconstructed, smart, spiffy, spruce

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Heel

The most common words with a similar meaning to Heel:

Slang: crud, crumb, dirtbag, schmuck, scumbag, scuzzball, sleazebag, sleazeball, slimeball
Chiefly British: blighter, sod
British: bleeder
bastard, beast, boor, bounder, bugger, buzzard, cad, chuff, churl, clown, creep, cretin, cur, dog, fink, hound, jerk, joker, louse, lout, pill, rat, rat fink, reptile, rotter, scum, skunk, sleaze, slime, slob, snake, so-and-so, stinkard, stinker, swine, toad, varmint, vermin, son of a gun, angle

Related Words for Heel

barbarian, brute, caveman, Neanderthal, savage, loudmouth, vulgarian, lowlife, miscreant, rascal, rogue, roughneck, scab, scamp, scoundrel, villain, wretch, booby, doofus, fool, jackass, nincompoop, ninny, nit, nitwit, nut, schmo, airhead, birdbrain, blockhead

Near Antonyms of Heel

hero, heroine, idol, role model, gentleman, lady, angel, saint, even, flatten, level, straighten

Word Forms of Heel

Inflections: heeled, heeling, heels

Derived words: heelless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Heel

Middle English, from Old English hēla; akin to Old Norse hæll heel, Old English hōh hock

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Heel

Words & Phrases Containing Heel

heel-and-toe, heel fly, Achilles' heel, Cuban heel, down at heel, kitten heel

Frequently Asked Questions about Heel

What does "Heel" mean?

"Heel" means the back of the human foot below the ankle and behind the arch. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: the back of the human foot below the ankle and behind the arch. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Heel"?

Other words for "Heel" include bastard, beast, bleeder, blighter, boor, bounder, bugger and buzzard. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Heel" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Heel"?

There are 121 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Heel". Common alternatives include bastard, beast, bleeder, blighter, boor, bounder, bugger, buzzard, cad and chuff.

What is a slang word for "Heel"?

Slang words for "Heel" include crud, crumb, dirtbag, schmuck, scumbag and scuzzball.

How do you use "Heel" in a sentence?

Examples of "Heel" in a sentence: "felt like a heel when she found out that she'd blamed the wrong person"; "the strong gust heeled the sailboat almost to the point of capsizing, but we managed to right it".

Is "Heel" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Heel" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Heel" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Heel" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Heel"?

"Heel" is pronounced /ˈhēl/.