sword

noun

often attributive
1
: a weapon (such as a cutlass or rapier) with a long blade for cutting or thrusting that is often used as a symbol of honor or authority
2
a
: an agency or instrument of destruction or combat
b
: the use of force
the pen is mightier than the swordE. G. Bulwer-Lytton
3
: coercive power
4
: something that resembles a sword
swordlike adjective

Illustration of sword

Illustration of sword
  • 1 pommel
  • 2 hilt
  • 3 guard
  • 4 blade
Phrases
at swords' points
: mutually antagonistic : ready to fight

Examples of sword in a Sentence

once upon a time dueling with swords was the gentlemanly way to settle a point of honor
Recent Examples on the Web The culminating fights are fantastic, conducted not with swords but with machetes, which clang away in the smoky dark. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2024 The samurai Mariko finally takes up a naginata polearm sword and attacks the surrounding guards. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024 Like reforging a sword that had been broken, Polaroid had become whole once again, and in 2020, Impossible rebranded itself as Polaroid. Eric Ravenscraft, WIRED, 24 Mar. 2024 Eubanks is seen hoisting another prop from the escape room and Mitchell poses for the group photo with a fake sword. Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024 Well, the details are totally different — like, no one’s committing seppuku with swords nowadays — but the politics of it are very much relevant. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2024 In addition, 32 cannonballs, two ax head pieces and the remains of two swords were found. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024 The story sees Amanda Waller, the head of A.R.G.U.S., assemble a group of notorious DC criminals Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Peacemaker, Clayface and King Shark for a mission into an otherworldly realm full of swords and magic and where orcs rampage and dragons rule the skies. Patrick Frater, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024 When a monster lurches from the thicket in Dragon’s Dogma 2, which arrives on Friday, the game crackles with the cadence of its fighting forebears: the swing of a sword — bang — followed by bone-crunching pow. Lewis Gordon, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sword.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English sweord; akin to Old High German swert sword

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sword was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sword

Cite this Entry

“Sword.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sword. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

sword

noun
ˈsō(ə)rd How to pronounce sword (audio)
ˈsȯ(ə)rd
1
: a weapon having a long blade usually with a sharp point and edge
2
: the use of force
swordlike adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on sword

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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