1
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
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
Indeed, Ehrlich mines her treasure trove to create jewels imbued with the presence of the past, molding, for example, bronze age Viking bracelets in wax, incising them with enigmatic marks and casting them in 18-karat gold or sterling silver.
—Kyle Roderick, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for incise
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
Indeed, Ehrlich mines her treasure trove to create jewels imbued with the presence of the past, molding, for example, bronze age Viking bracelets in wax, incising them with enigmatic marks and casting them in 18-karat gold or sterling silver.
—Kyle Roderick, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for incise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for incise
Verb
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As waveguide smart glasses, the G2 uses flat, clear lenses with waveguides etched into them that redirect light projected from microprojectors built into the frames.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
9 Apr. 2026
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Today, this history is etched into a landscape pockmarked with deep craters and atomic lakes, contaminated with radioactive isotopes cesium-137, strontium-90 and plutonium-239 that can remain dangerous for thousands of years.—
Magdalena Stawkowski,
The Conversation,
8 Apr. 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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Impressed by this demonstration of America’s manufacturing might, Duchamp took one back to his studio, inscribed it, and hung from the ceiling.—
Howard Halle,
ARTnews.com,
10 Apr. 2026
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Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,100-year-old sling bullet in Israel inscribed with a pointed message aimed at enemy forces.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Curry was on the floor as Golden State embarked upon their comeback, with his layup slicing the Rockets’ advantage to just 112-111 with under two minutes remaining, and then back to one point with a 3-pointer with a minute to go.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
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There was a ribbon-cutting ceremony a couple of hours before the game, gigantic scissors slicing a pink ribbon.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The white-gold indices, also hand-engraved, and star trails, evoking the night sky, are joined by 18-karat-pink-gold hands, a visible flying-tourbillon cage, a dual-register split-seconds flyback chronograph, and a semi-Gregorian perpetual calendar.—
Oren Hartov,
Robb Report,
4 Apr. 2026
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Less than six months after Cesar Chavez died, his family members were in Santa Ana engraving their names in cement during a groundbreaking for Cesar Chavez Continuation High School.—
Claire Wang,
Oc Register,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Hall ripped a two-out double to left field scoring Higgins.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
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Schiller's sister ripped the medical tubes from his arms.—
Troy Roberts,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The brewing dispute centers on the 40-home Hidden Valley Ranch development currently being carved into a series of hillsides on Poway’s northern end near the Blue Sky Ecological Reserve.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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He was supposed to be a legend carved in marble.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Replays showed Gaudreau slashed Wallstedt’s glove and inhibited his ability to make the save.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Earlier this year, the board voted for a debt mitigation plan that involved slashing upwards of 70 jobs, closing a historic elementary school and cutting dozens of district programs and contracts.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Incise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/incise. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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