hammer and sickle

noun

|Updated on: 12 May 2018

Definition of hammer and sickle

: an emblem consisting of a crossed hammer and sickle used especially as a symbol of Soviet Communism

Recent Examples of hammer and sickle from the Web

The disguised antisemitism that for so long had been as ubiquitous a feature of Soviet society as the hammer and sickle started to shed its covers.

— margarita gokun silver, Longreads, "The Forever Nomad," 30 Apr. 2018
On a rainy day, the group dressed in Red Army outfits, huddled together to hold a red flag with the hammer and sickle and smiled for the camera.

— alexandra stevenson, New York Times, "China’s Communists Rewrite the Rules for Foreign Businesses," 13 Apr. 2018
They were greeted with scores of television cameras perched by the looming gray doors — which still bear the hammer and sickle insignia of the Soviet Union — that lead into the halls of the Stalinist skyscraper the Foreign Ministry calls home.

— matthew bodner, Washington Post, "One by one, Russia tells European ambassadors of latest diplomatic expulsions," 30 Mar. 2018
They were greeted with scores of television cameras perched by the looming gray doors — which still bear the hammer and sickle insignia of the Soviet Union — that lead into the halls of the Stalinist skyscraper the Foreign Ministry calls home.

— matthew bodner, BostonGlobe.com, "Russia tells string of European envoys of latest expulsions," 30 Mar. 2018
Just inside Kachka’s door on Grand Avenue, a hammer and sickle are bolted on the wall.

— robert reid, San Francisco Chronicle, "Best Portland spots for Russian culture need no propaganda," 9 Mar. 2018
Even her last public appearance — her funeral — was marked by the Communist Party hammer and sickle flag that adorned her coffin.

— isabella gomez, Teen Vogue, "Frida Kahlo: Radical Artist, Political Activist, Icon," 26 Jan. 2018
One featured a drawing of Sessions's face over a Soviet hammer and sickle.

— leah sottile, Washington Post, "Attorney General Jeff Sessions visited Portland? Of course there was a protest.," 23 Sep. 2017
The main stage is adorned with giant red flags flanking the hammer and sickle.

— brendan scott, Bloomberg.com, "China's Politics and Pageantry on Display at Once in Five-Year Meeting," 18 Oct. 2017

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