cleaves
Cuts through firmly
Cleaves is a verb with two opposite meanings from different roots.
One cleave means to split or divide forcefully: The axe cleaves the wood, Lightning cleaved the sky.
The other cleave means to cling or adhere faithfully: She cleaves to her principles, a man shall cleave unto his wife.
Context usually makes the intended sense clear—splitting involves objects, clinging involves loyalties or relationships.
splits
Quick forceful slice
chop
Quick forceful slice
halve · bisect · rend · sunder · carve · hack · hew · axe · butcher · meat
cling
Hold tightly to
grip · hold · fasten · cohere · adhere · fuse · unite · join · secure · affix
- splitssplits, divisions, separations, partings, breaks
- modifiestransforms, converts, enhances, activates, conjugates
- meat cleaverHeavy cutting blade
- Chinese cleaverWide rectangular Asian blade
- builder's cleavageExposed rear cleft
- bond cleavageBreaking molecular connections
- the CleaversClassic sitcom clan