1
as in to push
to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one
I had to keep shoving my heavy suitcase as I slowly made my way to the head of the line
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to press
to push steadily against with some force
quit shoving your hand in my face
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 shove
Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
The force of the impact shoved the SUV into the Waymo.
—ArsTechnica, 27 Mar. 2025
Jay King, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
But now Barrymore has explained that Stewart’s shove was all in good fun.
—EW.com, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shove
Verb
Bedard held onto Nemec’s stick as Nemec shoved the Hawks down repeatedly while also yanking his stick to get free.
—Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
The force of the impact shoved the SUV into the Waymo.
—ArsTechnica, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
After initially shoulder-bumping Springer on one end of the court, Kornet found him again around mid-court and nailed him with a hard shove.
—Jay King, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
But now Barrymore has explained that Stewart’s shove was all in good fun.
—EW.com, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shove
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shove
Verb
-
Are Puerto Rican filmmakers pushing for this to change?—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2025
-
There are ways to push back against the horrors, but even the most ardent activist among us can’t be protesting 24/7.—
James Factora,
Them.,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
McIlroy, 35, is on his 17th trip and pressed by the pressure of this being the last leg of his would-be career grand slam.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Additionally, it's said to hold the tire's bead more securely to the rim, as the air pressure keeps the one pressed firmly into the other.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
It’s built strong enough to drive a car across, Duplechan said, not to mention hold a dance party.—
David Caraccio,
Sacramento Bee,
22 Mar. 2025
-
The publication of children’s magazine content on science may have driven some of this research.—
H.M.A. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The song is deliberately compressed to sound like a Phil Spector track, and a video John made for the Gilbert O’Sullivan Show in 1973 features a rare cameo from Bernie mimicking Ray Cooper on bells.—
Shana Naomi Krochmal,
Vulture,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Many of them focus on radically new technologies for heating and compressing plasmas, or fusing unusual combinations of isotopes.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Suddenly, Fort Myers was thrust into the national spotlight as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration waited for officials to make their next move, threatening the loss of state and federal funds.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2025
-
In the daffodil spears thrusting up through dead leaves, each stalk swells with the pulse of a blossom-to-be.—
Rosanna Warren,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shove.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shove. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share