Definition of sword
1 : a weapon (such as a cutlass or rapier) with a long blade for cutting or thrusting that is often used as a symbol of honor or authority
2a : an agency or instrument of destruction or combatb : the use of force the pen is mightier than the sword — E. G. Bulwer-Lytton
3 : coercive power
4 : something that resembles a sword
at swords' points
: mutually antagonistic : ready to fight
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Examples of sword in a Sentence
once upon a time dueling with swords was the gentlemanly way to settle a point of honor
Recent Examples of sword from the Web
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A more compelling villain would have helped matters, and one scene in which Diana brutally impales a foe with her sword is an incongruous fit with the movie’s overall tone.
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Just look to the image of Gal Gadot confidently striding out alone onto an unwinnable battlefield with only a shield, a sword and a mission — and prevailing.
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Muskets and cannons supplement swords and bows-and-arrows for maximum carnage.
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Whether fists, swords or bullets are at play, any sense of immediacy or reality evaporates.
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But paranoia can sometimes be a double-edged sword.
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The Narwhal, which can reach a top speed of 25 knots or 29 miles per hour and is named for a whale that has a large, sword-like tusk protruding from its lip, has responded to a wide range of emergencies since its 2001 commissioning in Newport Beach.
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The Saudis staged elaborate festivities including a traditional sword dance.
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Before long, the crowd began attacking the group with bricks, sticks and swords, Mr. Verma said.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sword'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Illustration of sword
Origin and Etymology of sword
Middle English, from Old English sweord; akin to Old High German swert sword
SWORD Defined for English Language Learners
sword
playDefinition of sword for English Language Learners
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: a weapon with a long metal blade that has a sharp point and edge
SWORD Defined for Kids
sword
playDefinition of sword for Students
: a weapon having a long blade usually with a sharp point and edge
Learn More about sword
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See words that rhyme with sword Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sword Spanish Central: Translation of sword Nglish: Translation of sword for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sword for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sword
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