Illustration of sword
- 1 pommel
- 2 hilt
- 3 guard
- 4 blade
often attributive
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
2
a
: an agency or instrument of destruction or combat
b
: the use of force
The pen is mightier than the sword.—
Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton3
: coercive power
4
: something that resembles a sword
see also:
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 on the Web
Some types mentioned in literary sources, such as the Dimachaerus, who fought with no shield and a sword in each hand, or the Manii, mentioned by a character in Petronius, have yet to be identified in the visual material.
—Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
Her eyes wide and wise; her tenacity both a sword and a balm.
—Britt Lower, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
The team also uncovered a sword at the underwater site, which suggests a military escort may have been aboard the ship.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.
—Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sword
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Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
Her eyes wide and wise; her tenacity both a sword and a balm.
—Britt Lower, Time, 15 Apr. 2026
The team also uncovered a sword at the underwater site, which suggests a military escort may have been aboard the ship.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.
—Jordan Freiman, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sword
Cite this Entry
“Sword.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sword. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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