knife 1 of 2

noun

ˈnīf How to pronounce knife (audio)
Definition of knifenext
as in cutter
an instrument with a metal length that has a sharp edge for cutting be careful in using the knife to split open the cardboard box

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

knife

2 of 2

verb

as in to slice

Related Words

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 knife
Noun
The president, who has long insisted that someone maliciously vandalized the lining of the pool with a knife or boxcutter, first rebuked Pirro's decision to drop the Hearn case in a Saturday social media post. — Emily Chang, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 The influencer digs the knife in even deeper by explaining that Brady’s ex-wife Gisele Bundchen lives with their two kids, Vivian, 13, and son Benjamin, 16, and her new husband Joaquim Valente. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
Banks got to speaking about his fear of planes and the many ways that’s knifed at his draft process. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026 Liquid manure in tanks under hog or cattle confinement buildings is pumped to field where it is knifed into the soil. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for knife
Recent Examples of Synonyms for knife
  1. cutter
  2. slice
  3. blade
  4. thrust
  5. dagger
  6. punch
  7. cut
  8. pike
Noun
  • To reseed your yard, or seed a new lawn, remove all existing grass and weeds at the root with a sod cutter.
    — Amanda Tust, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Cord cutters can check out DirecTV, Fox One, Fubo, Hulu, Peacock, Sling, and YouTube TV for these games.
    — Jason Cohen, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of cutter
Verb
  • The first murder is a girl slicing into her slumbering mother’s neck with a hacksaw; then her brother pounds his father’s face in with a baseball bat.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Floating in zero gravity, players slice derelict spacecraft into salvageable chunks, while also contending with unruly physics, pressure, and profit margins.
    — Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of slice
Noun
  • This show loves nothing more this season than to introduce a potential assassin and promptly thwart his plan via blade to the head or neck.
    — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Robert Mynatt, the roastmaster at Volcanica Coffee, says that espresso requires an extremely fine grind, one that many home grinders (primarily blade grinders) are unable to evenly and consistently produce.
    — Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of blade
Verb
  • The United States, which had been lurching toward entry in the Second World War, was suddenly and inescapably thrust into global conflict.
    — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Xenophobic unrest in South Africa, where violent mobs have forced thousands of African foreigners to flee the country, has thrust migration into the spotlight.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of thrust
Noun
  • The dagger goal with which Gotham FC sunk the record-breaking KC Current in 2025 was out of the second phase of a set piece.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • The delivery apps offer discovery and delivery for their 15% to 30% cut—a useful (if brutally expensive) tool for a family-run shop and a dagger to the pizza chains who once stood out by offering those services in-house.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 20 July 2026
Definition of dagger
Verb
  • The addition of chalaca (an onion, tomato and pepper relish) adds punch, while crunch from popcorn bits and a kick of minty, tarragon-like huacatay leaves complete the plate.
    — Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • One thing that makes Rodriguez such a great fit in what the Dolphins want to do defensively is his propensity to punch the ball out for forced fumbles.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of punch
Verb
  • However, a dangerous push to cut these crucial programs, especially in Africa, risks repeating past errors and ceding influence to competitors.
    — James K. Glassman, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Sears carried it wide, cut inside center-back Rafaelle, and fired past Moorhouse for the goal.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of cut
Verb
  • While the gold seemed all-but hers, Andrade came up short on her second vault, a comparatively simple Lopez vault, piking down and stepping over the line to incur a neutral deduction.
    — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
  • This works best for larger pike fillets (pike in the 22-inch to 30-inch range).
    — Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 15 Sep. 2023
Definition of pike

Browse Nearby Words

knickknacks
knife
knifed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Knife.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/knife. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on knife

Nglish: Translation of knife for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nurture

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All