stylet

noun

Definition of styletnext
as in bayonet

Related 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 stylet The scale insects pierce through the thin bark of the beeches with a stylet and inject enzymes to help digest the plant material. — Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2026 Although mites are arachnids, the most common garden insect pests, namely aphids, scales, mealybugs, and whiteflies, all suck from plant foliage with stylets. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025 The team explains how scientists can examine an octopus’ beak, stylets, and growth rings in the lab to determine how old the animal is. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Apr. 2024 Sulfur sprays and stylet oil fungicides will also reduce the spread of powdery mildew. — Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Apr. 2023 The last stylet—the hypopharynx—drips mosquito saliva into the wound. — John Sass, Field & Stream, 11 Apr. 2023 Then, the mosquito uses one stylet—the labrum—to prod around, seeking a blood vessel to pierce. — John Sass, Field & Stream, 11 Apr. 2023 In the ring-mating species, its walls are thick to prevent injury from the intruding stylet or the anchored sperm. — Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 10 Jan. 2011
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stylet
  1. bayonet
  2. dagger
  3. poniard
  4. bodkin
  5. cutlass
  6. cutter
  7. knife
  8. stiletto
Noun
  • The stone bayonet from the rifle carved over the back of a third statue was also missing.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Both his suggestion and the jolly appreciation seem out of tune with the situation ‘far from home’, which may be a military manoeuvre involving mock battles and bayonet practice, or a preparation for actual combat.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of bayonet
Noun
  • What do bell sleeves, paisley prints, and dagger collars have in common?
    — Georgia Brown, Glamour, 7 Nov. 2026
  • With Stephen Curry connecting on 3-point daggers when needed most, the Warriors extended their winning streak to six.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of dagger
Noun
  • This includes openly carrying the famous Jim Bowie knife, as well as daggers, dirks, throwing knives, stilettos, poniards, swords, machetes and spears.
    — John Tufts, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2017
Definition of poniard
Noun
  • The bodkins were helpful tools that could double as hairpins.
    — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 11 Aug. 2025
  • Icke also occasionally cues up some Bob Dylan songs, chosen for their on-the-bodkin lyrics.
    — Helen Shaw, Vulture, 30 June 2022
Definition of bodkin
Noun
  • The workers blamed Landi — who was still in charge — for their troubles, and an image of Landi posing, pirate-style, with a cartoon-villain expression and a cutlass between his teeth became a symbol for Eutelia’s misdeeds.
    — Atossa Araxia Abrahamian Atossa Araxia Abrahamian, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
  • The ultimate prop was the pirate flag, which could be decorated with a skull and crossbones (as in the classic Jolly Roger design), bleeding hearts, hourglasses, spears, cutlasses and skeletons.
    — Sean Kingsley, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 May 2024
Definition of cutlass
Noun
  • Costume designer Libby Dempster works with a variety of artisans, including a weaver, the armory department, the jewelry department, pattern cutters, a textiles team and a breakdown team, who make the clothes look worn in.
    — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The potatoes are cut with a French fry cutter, soaked in water, then dried and pre-fried in peanut oil at 160C (320F).
    — Hana Asbrink, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of cutter
Noun
  • Three Howard County police officers shot and killed LaMorie, who was armed with a knife.
    — CBS Baltimore, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The episode builds to a climactic moment where Flynn’s mother, Skyler, grabs a knife and brandishes it at her husband.
    — Dean Norris, Vanity Fair, 10 Nov. 2026
Definition of knife
Noun
  • But Sarah Chue, a Los Angeles manicurist, adds that the richness and depth of olive polish can also flatter square or stiletto nails.
    — Christina Middleton, Allure, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The singer paired a Ferragamo dress with the same black satin stiletto mules it was shown with on the runway at the Ferragamo spring 2027 fashion show during Milan Fashion Week in September.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of stiletto

Browse Nearby Words

styles
stylet
stylets
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stylet.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stylet. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on stylet

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about stylet

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

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
speech-bubble-untangle
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a round de...
See All