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
There’s the Levi’s x Sacai denim jacket featuring the same custom sunspot gold shanks based on vintage Levi’s hardware, the Levi x Sacai Denimx Matelasse twill reversible blouson, and two variations of the Reversible Blouson, available in indigo x black or blue x khaki nylon exteriors.
—
Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 19 May 2025
To make birria without a stovetop, lamb shanks are cured in salt and pepper for 24 hours, seared on induction burners, braised overnight in the oven with guajillo chiles, tomato, vinegar and spices, kept warm in a sous-vide machine, then crisped in the oven before service.
—Priya Krishna, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Think grilled Jerusalem bread stuffed with feta and jalapeños for $5, spanakopita for $5.50, lamb shank with couscous and dried fruits for $20, and more.
—Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
The key feature of flooring nails is their narrow head, barely wider than the shank of the nail itself.
—Clark Hodgin, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shank
Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 19 May 2025
To make birria without a stovetop, lamb shanks are cured in salt and pepper for 24 hours, seared on induction burners, braised overnight in the oven with guajillo chiles, tomato, vinegar and spices, kept warm in a sous-vide machine, then crisped in the oven before service.
—Priya Krishna, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Think grilled Jerusalem bread stuffed with feta and jalapeños for $5, spanakopita for $5.50, lamb shank with couscous and dried fruits for $20, and more.
—Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
The key feature of flooring nails is their narrow head, barely wider than the shank of the nail itself.
—Clark Hodgin, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shank
Noun
-
In August 1900, white civilians and white cops rioted as one, unleashing two days of indiscriminate attacks against dozens of Black Hell’s Kitchen residents using lead pipes, guns, knives, fists, and billy clubs in what remains one of the largest explosions of racist violence in city history.—
Erin Quinlan,
Architectural Digest,
30 June 2025
-
All four had been stabbed multiple times with a large knife.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
To cut dough by machine: Run the pasta sheets through the pasta cutter, then toss noodles with flour to prevent sticking.—
Tribune News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 June 2025
-
The United States Coast Guard cutter USCGC Stratton, left, conducts an exercise with the Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Spey, right, in the East China Sea on June 1, 2025.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shank. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share