plural in form but singular or plural in construction
: an annual bedstraw (Galium aparine) having many stalked white flowers and stems covered with curved prickles
also
: any of several related plants
Examples of cleavers in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Keep in Mind: This sharpener was designed for standard knives and won't work on filet knives or ultra-fine cleavers.
—
Adria Greenhauff, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2023
Others wield stone cleavers to slice through large fruits.
—Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 18 Dec. 2019
This sharpener can accommodate chef’s knives, paring knives, boning knives, and meat cleavers.
—Laura Denby, Peoplemag, 6 Oct. 2022
This year my diet has included chickweed, dead nettle, bittercress, dock, garlic pennycress, wild onion, brassica, wood sorrel, cleavers, dandelions, lamb’s quarters, day lily shoots, sochan, purslane and poke (amply boiled to remove toxins).
—Gabriel Popkin, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022
Brandishing bloodstained cleavers, two men warn Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about inflaming religious tensions in India and vow to avenge acts of blasphemy.
—Niha Masih, Washington Post, 29 June 2022
Eventually, a sweet clover, Bloody Butcher corn and black bee honey cake dressed with calendulas appeared, along with steaming cups of Spring Equinox tea, a custom blend of nettle, cleavers, dandelion leaf and Plantago that Coleman conceived.
—New York Times, 11 May 2022
And sharpening knives and cleavers for the local butcher.
—John Anderson, WSJ, 4 Nov. 2021
In the office, two cleavers are stuck forebodingly into the wall, an installation by Barry Le Va, the influential sculptor who died this year.
—New York Times, 14 June 2021
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.
Adria Greenhauff, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2023
Others wield stone cleavers to slice through large fruits.
—Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 18 Dec. 2019
This sharpener can accommodate chef’s knives, paring knives, boning knives, and meat cleavers.
—Laura Denby, Peoplemag, 6 Oct. 2022
This year my diet has included chickweed, dead nettle, bittercress, dock, garlic pennycress, wild onion, brassica, wood sorrel, cleavers, dandelions, lamb’s quarters, day lily shoots, sochan, purslane and poke (amply boiled to remove toxins).
—Gabriel Popkin, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022
Brandishing bloodstained cleavers, two men warn Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about inflaming religious tensions in India and vow to avenge acts of blasphemy.
—Niha Masih, Washington Post, 29 June 2022
Eventually, a sweet clover, Bloody Butcher corn and black bee honey cake dressed with calendulas appeared, along with steaming cups of Spring Equinox tea, a custom blend of nettle, cleavers, dandelion leaf and Plantago that Coleman conceived.
—New York Times, 11 May 2022
And sharpening knives and cleavers for the local butcher.
—John Anderson, WSJ, 4 Nov. 2021
In the office, two cleavers are stuck forebodingly into the wall, an installation by Barry Le Va, the influential sculptor who died this year.
—New York Times, 14 June 2021
Cite this Entry
“Cleavers.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cleavers. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share