Thesaurus results for SHANK

shank

noun

ˈshaŋk

slang

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

Relevance

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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shank

Noun

Each board comes with spread containers, bowls and a cheese knife.

— Tory Johnson, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
And in San Diego County, 34-year-old Grant Parker fatally stabbed a man outside a downtown hotel in February while on diversion for threatening to kill his mother with a knife, carjacking and attacking a cellmate.

— Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026