sword

noun

ˈsȯrd How to pronounce sword (audio)
Synonyms of swordnext
often attributive
1
: a weapon (such as a cutlass or rapier) with a long blade for cutting or thrusting that is often used as a symbol of honor or authority
2
a
: an agency or instrument of destruction or combat
b
: the use of force
The pen is mightier than the sword.—Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton
3
: coercive power
4
: something that resembles a sword
swordlike
ˈsȯrd-ˌlīk How to pronounce sword (audio)
adjective
see also:
at swords' points

Illustration of sword

Illustration of sword
  • 1 pommel
  • 2 hilt
  • 3 guard
  • 4 blade

Synonyms of sword

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of sword in a Sentence

once upon a time dueling with swords was the gentlemanly way to settle a point of honor
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But, the intense negotiations turned into all sides laying down their swords, until September. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Arizona’s Carson Beck and King — two NFL rookies who once faced off in an eight-overtime college thriller won by Georgia’s Beck over Georgia Tech’s King — threw swords at each other throughout that second quarter. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2026 The second trickier and clumsier aside happens when Banderas’ chef tells Tony the tragedy of 17th century French cook François Vatel, who literally fell on his sword before serving a banquet to Louis XIV. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026 And if that wasn’t enough, Ragnarok also boasts Tessa Thompson as the sword-swinging badass Valkyrie. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sword

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English sweord; akin to Old High German swert sword

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sword was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing sword

Rhymes for sword

See All Rhymes for sword

Browse Nearby Words

swope
sword
sword-and-buckler
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sword.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sword. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

sword

noun
ˈsō(ə)rd How to pronounce sword (audio)
ˈsȯ(ə)rd
1
: a weapon having a long blade usually with a sharp point and edge
2
: the use of force
swordlike
-ˌlīk How to pronounce sword (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on sword

Nglish: Translation of sword for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sword

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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'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

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
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
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All