1
: a sharp wedge of steel or other hard material used as a fulcrum for a lever beam in a precision instrument
2
: a sharp narrow knifelike edge
Examples of knife-edge in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Vintage variation shifts my preferences, but the combination of knife-edge acidity, tropical fruit, and herbal complexity makes these worthy additions to the cellar.
—
Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
But the battle between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris remains on a knife-edge and the pressure will only increase from here.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
But a surge in support for far-right and anti-establishment candidates left the runoff on a knife-edge.
—Reuters, NBC news, 19 May 2025
Brimming with boundless enthusiasm, White hit hard and fast, channeling a riveting blend of strident rawness and knife-edge menace that echoed a host of the rough-and-tumble blues predecessors who inspired him.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
But the battle between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris remains on a knife-edge and the pressure will only increase from here.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
But a surge in support for far-right and anti-establishment candidates left the runoff on a knife-edge.
—Reuters, NBC news, 19 May 2025
Brimming with boundless enthusiasm, White hit hard and fast, channeling a riveting blend of strident rawness and knife-edge menace that echoed a host of the rough-and-tumble blues predecessors who inspired him.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Knife-edge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knife-edge. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share