chisel

1 of 3

noun

chis·​el ˈchi-zᵊl 

: a metal tool with a sharpened edge at one end used to chip, carve, or cut into a solid material (such as wood, stone, or metal)

chisel

2 of 3

verb

chiseled or chiselled; chiseling or chiselling ˈchi-zə-liŋ 

ˈchiz-liŋ

transitive verb

1

: to cut or work with or as if with a chisel

2

: to employ shrewd or unfair practices on in order to obtain one's end

also : to obtain by such practices

chisel a job

intransitive verb

1

: to work with or as if with a chisel

2

a

: to employ shrewd or unfair practices

b

: to thrust oneself : intrude

chisel in on a racket

chiseler noun

or chiseller

ˈchi-zə-lər 

ˈchiz-lər

chiseled

3 of 3

adjective

chis·​eled ˈchi-zᵊld 

variants or chiselled

: formed or crafted as if with a chisel

chiseled good looks

a chiseled essay

a chiseled physique

Synonyms of chisel

Verb

• pluck
• squeeze
• cheat
• screw
• stick
• sting
• hustle
• beat

Examples of chisel in a Sentence

Verb

He chiseled off a corner of the block.

Letters were chiseled into a wall.

Adjective

He has the chiseled body of an athlete.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Reshaping the jawline or cheekbones by smashing them with a hammer or chisel. —Jordyn Tovey, The Conversation, 22 May 2026

Each reiteration and exaggeration of Mary’s bad behavior is another civic stroke of the chisel that perfects the monumental Lincoln in our collective imagination. —Literary Hub, 21 May 2026

Verb

To alleviate all that blockiness and bulk, the architects chiseled it like a block of marble, shaving here, notching there, bumping out, and pulling in to give it interest in the round. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 4 June 2026

Like Hayes, Brazil coach Arthur Elias is continuing to chisel down his core squad for the home World Cup next summer. —Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 2 June 2026

Adjective

Not Brody, whose chiseled, wiry presence is ever in motion, flailing, ducking, wincing, yearning. —Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026

His kids’ emergence in the industry around the same time, particularly the chiseled Alexander, helped reinforce this image both on- and off-screen. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French *chisel, cisel, from Vulgar Latin *cisellum, alteration of caesellum, from Latin caesus, past participle of caedere to cut

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1509, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

1781, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing chisel

• cold chisel
• firmer chisel

Rhymes for chisel

• drizzle
• fizzle
• grizzle
• sizzle

Kids Definition

chisel

1 of 2 noun

chis·​el ˈchiz-əl 

: a metal tool with a cutting edge at the end of a blade used to shape or chip away a solid material (as stone, wood, or metal)

chisel

2 of 2 verb

chiseled or chiselled; chiseling or chiselling

ˈchiz-(ə-)liŋ

1

: to cut or work with or as if with a chisel

2

: to use unfair or dishonest methods

chiseler

ˈchiz-(ə-)lər

noun

Medical Definition

chisel

noun

chis·​el ˈchiz-əl 

: a metal tool with a cutting edge at the end of a blade

especially : one used in dentistry (as for cutting or shaping enamel)