scythe

1 of 2

noun

ˈsīṯẖ  ˈsī 

: an implement used for mowing grass, grain, or other crops and composed of a long curving blade fastened at an angle to a long handle

Illustration of scythe

scythe

2 of 2

verb

scythed; scything

intransitive verb

: to use a scythe

transitive verb

: to cut with or as if with a scythe

scything cornstalks

Examples of scythe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the very rare instances of direct danger, like encountering a particularly nasty beast with huge scythe claws, getting hit only leads to the screen fading out and Yoshi reappearing at the start of the stage. —Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 19 May 2026

The utopia was temporary, its beauty and its small victories whittled away by the scythe of inaction. —Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026

Verb

That is before Salma Paralluelo scythed through the French side’s defence not once but twice between the 90th and 93rd minutes to double Barcelona’s advantage, despite the stadium announcer even kindly opting to reduce the total number of injury-time minutes from seven to five. —Megan Feringa, New York Times, 23 May 2026

Most people were short and slight due to childhood malnutrition, and diseases scythed regularly through their weak immune systems. —Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sithe, from Old English sīthe; akin to Old English sagu saw — more at saw

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1574, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for scythe

• blithe
• lithe
• tithe
• writhe
• wythe

Kids Definition

scythe

noun

ˈsīt͟h, 

sī

: a tool that has a curved blade on a long curved handle and is used for mowing grass or grain by hand