Illustration of sickle
- sickle 1
1
: an agricultural implement consisting of a curved metal blade with a short handle fitted on a tang
2
: the cutting mechanism (as of a reaper, combine, or mower) consisting of a bar with a series of cutting elements
: having the form of a sickle blade : having a curve similar to that of a sickle blade
the sickle moon
sickled; sickling
ˈsi-k(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to mow or reap with a sickle
2
: to change (a red blood cell) into a sickle cell
: to change into a sickle cell
the ability of red blood cells to sickle
Examples of sickle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lindsey McGinnis, Christian Science Monitor, 13 June 2025
The imagery is shocking: naked bodies, an upside-down cross, hooded Klan members, chains, hammers, sickles, swastikas and ladders leading to nowhere.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
Anthony Wood, Space.com, 30 May 2025
Last year, Trump created and posted his creations of former VP Kamala Harris on social media, a few times portraying her as a communist with the hammer and sickle symbol.
—Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 28 Apr. 2025
Cheyanne M. Daniels, The Hill, 9 Dec. 2024
The defense presented its own medical expert who said Neely died of a combination of factors, including a sickling crisis linked to his sickle cell trait, a schizophrenic episode, the struggle and restraint by Penny and K2 intoxication.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sickle
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Noun
High up in a tree, a man with a sickle is harvesting sap from a sugar palm, and a few feet off the path, a pair of brown Horsfield’s babbler chicks huddle in a low twig cup, safe from harm.
—Lindsey McGinnis, Christian Science Monitor, 13 June 2025
The imagery is shocking: naked bodies, an upside-down cross, hooded Klan members, chains, hammers, sickles, swastikas and ladders leading to nowhere.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Mars will be visible as a bright reddish point of light approximately 7 degrees to the upper left of the sickle moon.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 30 May 2025
Last year, Trump created and posted his creations of former VP Kamala Harris on social media, a few times portraying her as a communist with the hammer and sickle symbol.
—Emily Forlini, PC Magazine, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
Instead, using its own medical expert, the defense claimed Neely died of a sickling crisis from his sickle cell trait, a schizophrenic episode, Penny’s restraint and synthetic marijuana.
—Cheyanne M. Daniels, The Hill, 9 Dec. 2024
The defense presented its own medical expert who said Neely died of a combination of factors, including a sickling crisis linked to his sickle cell trait, a schizophrenic episode, the struggle and restraint by Penny and K2 intoxication.
—Gloria Pazmino, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sickle
Cite this Entry
“Sickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sickle. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sickle
1 of 2 noun
sick·le
ˈsik-əl
: a tool with a sharp curved metal blade and a short handle used to cut grass
sickle
2 of 2 verb
sickled; sickling
ˈsik-(ə-)liŋ
: to change into a sickle cell
the ability of red blood cells to sickle
Medical Definition
sickle
1 of 3 noun
sick·le
ˈsik-əl
: a dental scaler with a curved 3-sided point
sickle
2 of 3 adjective
: of, relating to, or characteristic of sickle cell anemia or sickle-cell trait
sickle hemoglobin
sickle
3 of 3 verb
sickled; sickling
ˈsik-(ə-)liŋ
: to change (a red blood cell) into a sickle cell
: to undergo change into a sickle cell
the ability of red blood cells to sickle
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