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2
as in to slit
to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife)
incised the tree with a sharp ax to get the sap flowing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of incise
To match its maritime origins, it was incised with designs of cavorting Tritons and surmounted with a silver Neptune riding a hippocampus—a lot of gaudy ornament around a big brown husk.
—
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 June 2025
The coroner ruled Carol’s cause of death as hypovolemia, which is when the plasma is too low from excessive bleeding; multiple stab and incised wounds from a sharp instrument; and a blunt force injury that fractured the skull, according to the coroner’s report.
—Stephanie Warsmith, USA Today, 8 June 2025
The comedian and political host incised the D.C. affair with one-liners aimed at those in attendance (from their fashion choices to their general decision to show up at all), X owner Elon Musk’s odd/potentially terrifying salute and outgoing POTUS Joe Biden’s down-to-the-wire blanket pardon.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2025
The stick and stone represent yes or no, while the leaf cards, which are specially incised with certain meanings, offer further clarification.
—Michelle Aroney and David Zeitlyn, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incise
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 26 June 2025
The coroner ruled Carol’s cause of death as hypovolemia, which is when the plasma is too low from excessive bleeding; multiple stab and incised wounds from a sharp instrument; and a blunt force injury that fractured the skull, according to the coroner’s report.
—Stephanie Warsmith, USA Today, 8 June 2025
The comedian and political host incised the D.C. affair with one-liners aimed at those in attendance (from their fashion choices to their general decision to show up at all), X owner Elon Musk’s odd/potentially terrifying salute and outgoing POTUS Joe Biden’s down-to-the-wire blanket pardon.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 20 Jan. 2025
The stick and stone represent yes or no, while the leaf cards, which are specially incised with certain meanings, offer further clarification.
—Michelle Aroney and David Zeitlyn, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for incise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incise
Verb
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This call by the Bulls crew is forever etched into my brain.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
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Satellite imagery near Ajo, Arizona, showed what appeared to be bulldozer tracks cutting a path approximately sixty to seventy feet wide across a colossal fish etched into the earth.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Nicholson repeatedly stabbed her and slit her throat before stuffing her into a large plastic bin with her arms and legs sticking out, Porter said.—
City News Service,
Oc Register,
21 Mar. 2026
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If it’s baked in a loaf pan, go ahead and slit the top of the batter before baking.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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It's always inscribed with cultural values and ideas.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
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Tate — a Chicago native who started his high school career at Marist before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida, then starred as a receiver at Ohio State — wore a jacket with his mom’s name, Ashley Griggs, inscribed on the inside.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At the counter, Sakeena was slicing slabs of goat meat into small cubes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 May 2026
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Chris Sale sliced and diced and Drake Baldwin banged and bashed as the Braves beat the Rockies 9-1 on Saturday at Coors Field, setting a franchise record by starting the year unbeaten in their first 11 series (10-0-1).—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
3 May 2026
Verb
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There are more than 24,000 names engraved on the Memorial.—
Kenneth D. Robinson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
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Most stonemasons engraved an average of 10 lines per day.—
Ethan Teekah,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Political attack ads abound ahead of the June 2 statewide direct primary election, with competing candidates finding new, creative ways to rip each other apart over their records on immigration, corruption or cashing in on the fossil fuel industry.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
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The mega-tsunami wreaked havoc across the landscape, stripping forests down to bare rock, ripping trees out by their roots and hurling boulders.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The French luxury house is carving out new territory with a skeleton model for its H08 collection.—
Paige Reddinger,
Robb Report,
3 May 2026
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Most of these caves were carved out during the medieval era.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Lufthansa, one of the biggest carriers in Europe, slashed 20,000 short-haul flights through October due in part to fuel costs.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
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Earlier in the film, Kenobi slashes off the arm of a creature who was known then as Walrus Man and is known now as Ponda Baba.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incise. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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