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
Its front slit sets the style apart from other midi dresses and adds more movement and breathability. — Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2026 His girlfriend, actor and model Elizabeth Hurley, wore a purple dress with a long slit to mark the occasion. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 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
  • Undrafted rookie Khalil Benson will be Patrick Mahomes’ starting left tackle this weekend, in Mahomes’ first game back after an ACL tear.
    — Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Mahomes is on target to start the season despite being just nine months removed from the ACL tear.
    — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of tear
Verb
  • Eli White, starting for the third straight game in place of Rafaela, promptly sliced a single to left, scoring the first two runs.
    — Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Shingle ½ small crisp apple (such as Fuji or Gala), very thinly sliced, over cheese, then top with shallots.
    — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of slice
Noun
  • Doctors made long surgical incisions along his left leg, from his hip to his ankle, and along his inner calf and thigh.
    — Diane Herbst, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The room was filled the quiet urgency that comes just before incision.
    — Debra Eluobaju, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of incision
Verb
  • The new approach, the research team explains, could replace the current slow, labor-intensive process, ultimately slashing the cost of production.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The background of the film is the budget slashes that are happening in this sector all over the Western world, as the government withdraws its own form of care.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of slash
Noun
  • The disbelief at billowing black smoke from a gash in the Pentagon and collapsing skyscrapers of steel, the dread over what attacks might yet come, the hope that people might be pulled from the rubble alive.
    — Ann Gerhart, Washington Post, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Penguins often twist their long necks to peck at gashes and pull out their own stitches, Pino said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of gash
Verb
  • Wildfires are ripping across parts of Indonesia, destroying precious peatland and smothering the country in a toxic smoke so thick, people are struggling to breathe.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
  • This version is made by ripping open a single-serving bag of chips — say, Doritos — then piling in meats, cheeses, veggies, sour cream, salsa and other ingredients.
    — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of rip
Verb
  • North Carolina Democrats in the state’s House of Representatives cut all ties with one of their candidates running for the state legislature after her past social media posts about violence against Republicans came to light.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Krohn put in new sprinklers and fire-safety systems after his last renters moved out a few years ago, then cut a hole between the second and third floors, allowing more light and air to filter through what is now a unified owner’s duplex.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of cut
Verb
  • And the beep, beep, beep of the garbage trucks preparing the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for sunrise and another day of tennis pierced the moments of silence.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • At her job, Sofia meets a young, up-and-coming American author (Patrick Schwarzenegger) who seems incapable of answering any question without giving her a long, piercing look first.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Sep. 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 15 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on slit

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slit

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 quorum

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'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

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

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

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
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
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All