bayonet

noun

bay·o·net | \ ˈbā-ə-nət

, -ˌnet, ˌbā-ə-ˈnet

Definition of bayonet

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a steel blade attached at the muzzle end of a shoulder arm (such as a rifle) and used in hand-to-hand combat

bayonet

verb

bayoneted also bayonetted; bayoneting also bayonetting

Definition of bayonet (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to stab with a bayonet

2 : to compel or drive by or as if by the bayonet

intransitive verb

: to use a bayonet

Examples of bayonet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The family suffered terrible, violent deaths with bayonets and bullets — especially the four daughters. — Elena Nicolaou, refinery29.com, "The Dramatic True Story Of Russia's Last Dynasty, The Romanovs," 5 July 2019 Watching his comrades fall, Jacob flees into the jungle and gets a bayonet in the stomach for his trouble. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "First trailer for Jacob’s Ladder reboot looks as spooky as the 1990 original," 2 July 2019 One old Pomo woman looked on in horror as two whites impaled a little girl on the bayonets of their guns and tossed the body in the water. — George Skelton, latimes.com, "In Newsom’s apology to Native Americans, California finally acknowledges the bigotry of its past," 20 June 2019 The British bayonets were triangular in shape, ensuring that even if the 18-inch blade did not puncture a vital organ, at least one facet of the weapon would always be slicing near a heart, a kidney, a liver. — Peter Cozzens, WSJ, "‘Valley Forge’ Review: In the Bleak Midwinter," 21 Dec. 2018 Moreover, the tips of the bayonets were not sharpened but blunt, cast to tear at an opponent’s flesh like a shark’s tooth. . . . — Peter Cozzens, WSJ, "‘Valley Forge’ Review: In the Bleak Midwinter," 21 Dec. 2018 Prosecutors say Cook was handling a bayonet when the rifle discharged. — Fox News, "Detroit man charged in livestreamed fatal shooting of friend," 26 Apr. 2018 A month after Pearl Harbor, Japanese troops swarmed down Manila’s boulevards, bayonets fixed. — Jonathan W. Jordan, WSJ, "‘Rampage’ Review: MacArthur’s Bloody Promise," 25 Oct. 2018 Pascal was in charge of presenting an American corner in the encampment — composed of a small tent for two men, a backpack including mess tin and cutlery and a bayonet. — Sylvie Corbet, Fox News, "Volunteers re-enact World War I encampment in Verdun, France," 25 Aug. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

And anyway, always better to be bitten by a stingray than bayoneted. — Erik Heinrich, BostonGlobe.com, "Kittiwake wreck dive and Stingray City are unforgettable adventures – even if you do get bit," 16 May 2018 An Army inquiry ultimately determined that 347 civilians were killed that day — shot, bayoneted or blasted with grenades. — Richard Goldstein, New York Times, "Ernest Medina, Army Captain Acquitted in My Lai Massacre, Dies at 81," 13 May 2018 An Army inquiry ultimately determined that 347 civilians were killed that day — shot, bayoneted, or blasted with grenades. — Richard Goldstein, BostonGlobe.com, "Ernest Medina, 81, Army captain acquitted in My Lai Massacre," 14 May 2018 One elderly man was bayoneted to death; another man was thrown alive into a well and killed with a hand grenade. — Washington Post, "50 years ago, the My Lai massacre shamed the US military," 15 Mar. 2018 One elderly man was bayoneted to death; another man was thrown alive into a well and killed with a hand grenade. — Fox News, "50 years ago, the My Lai massacre shamed the US military," 15 Mar. 2018 There are many battles in which surrendering soldiers are gunned down or bayoneted to death. — Dom Giordano, Philly.com, "Bill O'Reilly mastered the art of turning history into fascinating reads | Dom Giordano," 27 Sep. 2017 One of them, Scott Pruitt, the attorney general of Oklahoma, who used his office to bayonet Mr. Obama’s clean-energy regulations, was just chosen by Mr. Trump to become the new head of the Environmental Protection Agency. — Vivian Yee, New York Times, "To Combat Trump, Democrats Ready a G.O.P. Tactic: Lawsuits," 14 Dec. 2016 McCain got bayoneted in the groin; a soldier broke his shoulder apart with a rifle butt. — Elliot Kaufman, National Review, "John McCain: A Hero Under Fire," 19 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bayonet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.