Illustration of sword
- 1 pommel
- 2 hilt
- 3 guard
- 4 blade
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 sword.—
Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton3
: coercive power
4
: something that resembles a sword
see also:
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
Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop roleplaying game where players create fantasy characters and roll dice to determine whether their actions, like a sword attack or a persuasive argument, are successful against their foes.
—Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
Many fans thought the original covers of Pratchett’s novels went too heavy on busty maidens and strapping men with big swords, undermining their literary merit, and a similar problem has beset the various screen adaptations from Sky and the BBC.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
The sword-and-sandal genre is inherently male-skewing and popular with white viewers.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 22 May 2026
Men often wore swords on their left side and drew them with their right hand.
—Caroline Kobia, The Conversation, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sword
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Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
Many fans thought the original covers of Pratchett’s novels went too heavy on busty maidens and strapping men with big swords, undermining their literary merit, and a similar problem has beset the various screen adaptations from Sky and the BBC.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 24 May 2026
The sword-and-sandal genre is inherently male-skewing and popular with white viewers.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 22 May 2026
Men often wore swords on their left side and drew them with their right hand.
—Caroline Kobia, The Conversation, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sword
Cite this Entry
“Sword.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sword. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
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