slit 1 of 2

noun

ˈslit How to pronounce slit (audio)
Definition of slitnext
as in tear
a long deep cut made a slit in the fabric about nine inches long

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

slit

2 of 2

verb

as in to slice
to penetrate with a sharp edge (as a knife) I slit my finger open while cleaning up the broken glass

Synonyms & Similar 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 slit
Noun
The skirt also featured a deep side slit, plus two bow details at the hips. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2026 Jessica Biel in Tamara Ralph Everything about this look, from Tamara Ralph’s Fall 2026 couture collection, worked on Jessica Biel, from the feathers that framed her face to the bodice cut that emphasized her shoulders and that terrific high slit. — Laurie Brookins, HollywoodReporter, 18 Oct. 2026
Verb
And when her enemies slept, her forces crept into their camps and slit their throats. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 They’re designed with a sleek flat front, a mid-rise elastic waistband, a slightly loose leg opening, and small side slits for a comfortable, relaxed fit. — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for slit
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slit
  1. tear
  2. slice
  3. incision
  4. slash
  5. gash
  6. rip
  7. cut
  8. pierce
Noun
  • Like Linda, other community members wiped tears from their faces and embraced one another as photos and videos of Noel appeared on a stage screen.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2026
  • By Monday, the girl who cried all those tears on her guitar will be both the youngest woman to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall, and youngest-member of the Nashville edition.
    — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of tear
Verb
  • Carefully tip loaf out onto a wire rack and let cool at least 1 hour before slicing.
    — Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Markos takes revenge by slicing up Matt’s face with a switchblade, leaving him horribly disfigured and his acting career essentially over.
    — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of slice
Noun
  • When removing a tumor from a patient’s breast, surgeons sometimes make an incision in the armpit and take a small amount of lymph node tissue to see if the cancer has spread there.
    — Allessandra DiCorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The medical team had trouble finding a vein to administer the lethal drugs and finally made an incision in his groin area.
    — Ed White, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of incision
Verb
  • Butner slashed $30,000 off his asking price, but that generated only one offer, which fell through.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The bill slashed Medicaid funding by $1 trillion over the next 10 years, in part through new work and eligibility requirements.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of slash
Noun
  • One of Walsh's friends suffered a punctured lung, while the other sustained a gash extending from his ear to his chin.
    — Logan Hall, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • My right pants leg was gone and among the smaller cuts an ugly gash puckered at me from the calf.
    — Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of gash
Verb
  • Paladin reaches the high-rise apartment from the episode’s opening and finds the shotgun-wielding man dead, with wings carved into the floor below him and one of his eyes ripped out.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Witnesses said the speeding car jumped over a sidewalk, knocked down a chain-link fence and ripped out another wooden fence before going airborne into the house.
    — Tammy Mutasa, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of rip
Verb
  • The defense once again gave the offense an opportunity, forcing an Argyle punt, and this time, Heritage capitalized with a 2-yard rushing TD from Vargas to cut the lead to 7 points.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Later that month, Achilles, a university lecturer, cut a campaign ad in the spirit of a tongue-in-cheek corporate training video on how to avoid starting a foreign war.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of cut
Verb
  • The bullet pierced the rear passenger window of Irvine’s car, striking him in the right shoulder and causing his death.
    — Kelsie Cairns , Maria Paronich, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • No wonder some of the film’s most piercing moments are on the periphery.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of pierce

Browse Nearby Words

slipups
slit
slither
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slit.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slit. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on slit

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slit

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All