as in knife
an instrument with a metal length that has a sharp edge for cutting
slashed at the prison guard with a shank he had secretly made from a scrap of metal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shank
Those looking to push place and weight across technical terrain should invest in a good pair of hiking boots with a stiff, supportive shank.
—
Ian Graber-Stiehl, Outside, 5 Dec. 2025
After a quick three-and-out by the offense and a brutal 26-yard shank by punter Jamie Gillan, the defense again had an opportunity to finish the game.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Boos rain down as Jeremy Crawshaw shanks that punt off the side of his foot.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2025
Homemade knives, called shanks, are plentiful inside the prison, several inmates said.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shank
Ian Graber-Stiehl, Outside, 5 Dec. 2025
After a quick three-and-out by the offense and a brutal 26-yard shank by punter Jamie Gillan, the defense again had an opportunity to finish the game.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Boos rain down as Jeremy Crawshaw shanks that punt off the side of his foot.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2025
Homemade knives, called shanks, are plentiful inside the prison, several inmates said.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shank
Noun
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South Carolina is also one of several states that has noted a concerning trend of weapons like knives and blades entering their facilities through drone deliveries.—
Taylor Galgano,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
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Gun control activists slammed the moves as dangerous and irresponsible just days after authorities say a man armed with guns and knives tried to storm the White House Correspondents' Association dinner and kill the Republican president.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 May 2026
Noun
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Right-hander Grant Holmes started throwing effective cutters, and the Rockies failed to adjust.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
2 May 2026
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Munetaka Murakami blasted a cutter from Jake Woodford over the right-field wall for a home run in the ninth inning of the March 26 season opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shank. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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