Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bodkin
The bodkins were helpful tools that could double as hairpins.
—
Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 11 Aug. 2025
Icke also occasionally cues up some Bob Dylan songs, chosen for their on-the-bodkin lyrics.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 30 June 2022
Punishment for cursing or disparaging a clergyman was having a bodkin — a large needle — driven through the tongue.
—Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2017
Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 11 Aug. 2025
Icke also occasionally cues up some Bob Dylan songs, chosen for their on-the-bodkin lyrics.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 30 June 2022
Punishment for cursing or disparaging a clergyman was having a bodkin — a large needle — driven through the tongue.
—Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bodkin
Noun
-
This includes openly carrying the famous Jim Bowie knife, as well as daggers, dirks, throwing knives, stilettos, poniards, swords, machetes and spears.—
John Tufts,
USA TODAY,
30 Aug. 2017
Noun
-
But the award has to go to Matheus Cunha’s long-range dagger — a dramatic late winner curled past Gabriel’s desperate lunge and David Raya’s despairing dive into the bottom corner — to set the away crowd into rapturous applause.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
-
The Blue Jays have plenty to reflect on after the opening loss, not to mention a season that has not met expectations, but perhaps the sharpest dagger of the game came courtesy of Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
In all three cases, the light-saber-like lighting unit itself quickly attaches/detaches to and from a bayonet mount at the rear end of the main bracket.—
Ben Coxworth
May 15,
New Atlas,
15 May 2026
-
The assailant stabbed the pope with a bayonet, but the assassination attempt was unsuccessful.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Nancy Pelosi, Kamala Harris − the memoir settles a few scores, but generally with a stiletto rather than a hatchet.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
June Ambrose’s shoe collaboration with Naturalizer, for example, features Ghillie lace up stiletto sneaker pumps, while Sneex specializes in sneaker-heel hybrid options.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Once the potato starts sprouting, gently twist off the slips or use a knife to cut them off.—
Asia London Palomba,
The Spruce,
31 May 2026
-
One of the teens used his pocket knife to defend himself when the armed men came after him and his friend.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Police say Mendez-Marin was found with blood on his clothes and a bloody pocketknife at the scene.—
Stepheny Price , Ashley Papa , Elizabeth Pritchett,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Police said Gregory then pulled out a pocketknife, threatened to stab the juvenile and began stealing a PlayStation console and controllers.—
Garrett Behanna,
CBS News,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Police said Johnson was on probation for a previous conviction for possession of a dirk or dagger at the time of his arrest.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Additionally, one person was arrested on suspicion of possessing a dirk or dagger, police said.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The workers blamed Landi — who was still in charge — for their troubles, and an image of Landi posing, pirate-style, with a cartoon-villain expression and a cutlass between his teeth became a symbol for Eutelia’s misdeeds.—
Atossa Araxia Abrahamian Atossa Araxia Abrahamian,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2025
-
The ultimate prop was the pirate flag, which could be decorated with a skull and crossbones (as in the classic Jolly Roger design), bleeding hearts, hourglasses, spears, cutlasses and skeletons.—
Sean Kingsley,
Smithsonian Magazine,
15 May 2024
Cite this Entry
“Bodkin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bodkin. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
