The explorers were unable to cleave a path through the jungle.
Source: tatoeba (2327337)
Cleave
/kliv/
Synonyms for "cleave" (222 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (45)
Strong matches (66)
clusterclutchcoagulatecoalescecoherecombinecongealconglomerateconjoincrackcrevassecross-bombardcutcut apartcut awaycut in twocut offcut opendemolishdichotomize
Related words (111)
hang onhang on tohang togetherhewholdhold fasthold onhold on tohold tighthold togetherhugin halfincisejigsawjoinkeep hold oflancelay openlinkmake mincemeat of
Show 75 more words
massmirenever let gonipnucleizeopeopenopen upparepartpersistpick to piecesprunepull in piecespull to piecespulverizeramifyreduce to rubblerendrentriftripriverupturesawscissorsectionsegmentseparatesetsevershatterslashsliceslitslotsmashsmash the atomsnapsnipsolidifysplitsplit in twospreadspread outspringspring openstaystay putstickstick tostick togethersubdividesunderswing opentake aparttake hold oftapteartear aparttear opentear to piecestear to shredstear to tattersthrow opentotaltransecttrenchunbuildundouniteunmakewhittlewrack upwreck
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: adhere, cling, split, stick, abide.
- Sentence evidence is available for cleave, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "cleave".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "cleave"
Keep "cleave" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "cleave" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "cleave", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "cleave" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
14 entriesMore specific
11 entriesCollocations
11 entriescleavage planecleavage strengthcleave apartcleave throughcleave tocleave to principlescleave to traditiongeological cleavagemineral cleavagenatural cleavageplane of cleavage
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriessimilar
8 entriesTranslations
15 translations across 7 languages.
Bulgarian
2 entries- разцепвам verb (transitive mineralogy)
- разцепвам verb (transitive chemistry)
Finnish
2 entries- lohkaista verb (transitive mineralogy)
- lohkaista verb (transitive chemistry)
French
3 entries- cliver verb (transitive mineralogy)
- cliver verb (transitive chemistry)
- tailler verb (transitive mineralogy)
Italian
2 entries- scindere verb (transitive chemistry)
- tagliare verb (transitive mineralogy)
Occitan
3 entries- clivar verb (transitive mineralogy)
- clivar verb (transitive chemistry)
- talhar verb (transitive mineralogy)
Spanish
2 entries- escindir verb (transitive chemistry)
- tallar verb (transitive mineralogy)
Swedish
1 entries- klyva verb (transitive chemistry)
Sample sentences
19 total sentences available.
If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I remember thee not, if I set not Jerusalem above my chiefest joy.
Source: tatoeba (2837209)
"Soft snares I purpose round the queen to weave, / and wrap her soul in flames, that power malign / shall never change her, but her heart shall cleave / fast to AEneas with a love like mine."
Source: tatoeba (6798668)
Wherefore a man shall leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they shall be two in one flesh.
Source: tatoeba (7934982)
Showing 4 of 19 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "cleave"?
Closest matches include adhere, cling, split, stick, abide.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "cleave"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.