stiletto

noun

sti·​let·​to stə-ˈle-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce stiletto (audio)
plural stilettos or stilettoes
1
: a slender dagger with a blade thick in proportion to its breadth
2
: a pointed instrument for piercing holes for eyelets or embroidery
3
: stiletto heel
also : a shoe with a stiletto heel

Examples of stiletto in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But Carey paired the look with a pair of white leather bootie stilettos. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2023 Pair it with black stilettos and a dark smokey eye for a look that screams elegance and confidence. Poppy Morgan, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023 Vampire nails sees dangerous-looking red and black manis in a whole bunch of renditions, from aura to ombré to stiletto. Elle Turner, Glamour, 16 Oct. 2023 The slim stiletto stick delivers potent pigment with high gleam — without the tacky texture. Liana Schaffner, Allure, 21 Sep. 2023 First things first, Swift wore yet another preppy pleated mini skirt with a skinny belt and form-fitting black long-sleeve shirt, but her thigh-high Stella McCartney stiletto boots ($1,850) were anything but expected on the 33-year-old singer. Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 5 Nov. 2023 There are many others showcasing Hilaria in stilettos in various yoga poses. John Paul Brammer, SELF, 3 Nov. 2023 Then, there’s fringed shoes as well as high stilettos. Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2023 The social media star also swapped her usual blonde locks for a jet-black bob, and accessorized with a matching red scarf, a clutch and stilettos. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 28 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stiletto.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian, diminutive of stilo stylus, dagger, from Latin stilus stylus — more at style

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stiletto was circa 1611

Dictionary Entries Near stiletto

Cite this Entry

“Stiletto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stiletto. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

stiletto

noun
sti·​let·​to stə-ˈlet-ō How to pronounce stiletto (audio)
plural stilettos or stilettoes
: a slender dagger
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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