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 knap
And that’s mostly true; Neanderthals in both places used broadly similar techniques to make similar tools: triangular flakes and points, knapped from flint.
—
ArsTechnica, 18 July 2025
If confirmed, our human ancestors started shaping bones by striking them at specific angles in a process known as knapping as much as 1.5 million years ago.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2025
Rocks could be knapped, or shaped, into knife blades, spear points, ax heads, and more, allowing hunter-gatherers to take on new prey and use animal remains for clothing and other things.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2024
Our Paleolithic ancestors learned to knap delicate blades from round stone cobbles, hunt large game and cook their food.
—Herman Pontzer, Scientific American, 12 Dec. 2022
The course was jointly led by Ojibwe elders, who taught him how to knap flint, tan hides and build wigwams.
—Franz Lidz Meghan Dhaliwal, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2022
Knowing how to make a friction fire, or how to whittle a paddle out of a log, or how to knap stone arrowheads all have their place in a survival situation (particularly fire making).
—Jim Baird, Field & Stream, 3 Aug. 2020
There was the first time someone knapped and hafted a rock onto a spear shaft, and the first time someone strung up a bow.
—Tyler Freel, Outdoor Life, 19 Mar. 2020
His hair was unruly and his large, blunt fingers were usually fishing for a cigarette, except when preoccupied with his favourite hobby: knapping prehistoric flint tools.
—1843, 20 Feb. 2020
ArsTechnica, 18 July 2025
If confirmed, our human ancestors started shaping bones by striking them at specific angles in a process known as knapping as much as 1.5 million years ago.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Mar. 2025
Rocks could be knapped, or shaped, into knife blades, spear points, ax heads, and more, allowing hunter-gatherers to take on new prey and use animal remains for clothing and other things.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2024
Our Paleolithic ancestors learned to knap delicate blades from round stone cobbles, hunt large game and cook their food.
—Herman Pontzer, Scientific American, 12 Dec. 2022
The course was jointly led by Ojibwe elders, who taught him how to knap flint, tan hides and build wigwams.
—Franz Lidz Meghan Dhaliwal, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2022
Knowing how to make a friction fire, or how to whittle a paddle out of a log, or how to knap stone arrowheads all have their place in a survival situation (particularly fire making).
—Jim Baird, Field & Stream, 3 Aug. 2020
There was the first time someone knapped and hafted a rock onto a spear shaft, and the first time someone strung up a bow.
—Tyler Freel, Outdoor Life, 19 Mar. 2020
His hair was unruly and his large, blunt fingers were usually fishing for a cigarette, except when preoccupied with his favourite hobby: knapping prehistoric flint tools.
—1843, 20 Feb. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knap
Verb
-
But the Dolphins would benefit from experimenting with Zeek Biggers, who has redefined his body, slimming down, and Jordan Phillips, a workout warrior whose 6-foot-3, 305 pound frame is chiseled, working as five-technique defensive lineman.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
31 May 2026
-
Above the altar the names of the three documents had been chiseled into a large gray marble panel and then gilded.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
These formations were later carved into cave dwellings, frescoed churches, and even underground cities.—
Anya von Bremzen,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
-
At Camino del Molino (CMOL) in Spain, over 1,300 individuals were laid to rest, 5,000 years ago, because respiratory disease had become widespread, killing a significant number of individuals, who had been laid to rest in this circular gravesite carved into rock.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Some resemble ancient oil lamps and brooches; others take after Barbara Hepworth and Isamu Noguchi sculptures.—
Anthony Paletta,
Curbed,
23 May 2026
-
The permanent collection includes more than 1,000 works ranging from painting to sculpture to installations.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Las acciones de Google son especialmente insensibles y graves ante el cierre administrativo temporal del gobierno (shutdown), ignorando las peticiones de funcionarios gubernamentales y organizaciones hispanas que les solicitaron mantener la programación de Univision en el paquete principal.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Better yet, the superstar—who recently graved our TV screens on The White Lotus—worked with stylist Brett Alan Nelson to deliver custom outfits for the set.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The replica Tower sign hews close to the original, though the two are clearly distinguishable from one another.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
1 June 2026
-
Cornyn would hew closely to the president for the first 16 months of his second administration, hoping at the outside chance of his endorsement or to keeping him from weighing in at all.—
Thomas Beaumont,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Over the course of three weeks and nearly 150 hours, Mike Elder carefully crafted his honeybee sculpture, welding on antennas and legs, sculpting the yellow and black-striped body from foam and precisely designing its intricate wings.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
29 May 2026
-
The bull, with a 7½-foot horn span, was sculpted by Johnny Pate and painted by local artists in 2001 as part of the citywide BulLovArts project.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The shortstop also rocketed a 441-foot, two-run home run off Giants right-hander Keaton Winn in the eighth to cut San Francisco’s lead to 4-3.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
-
Based on 2026 opening day figures, eight teams would have to cut payroll to get under the cap.—
Ronald Blum,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Knap.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knap. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
