sword

noun

ˈsȯrd How to pronounce sword (audio)
Definition of swordnext
as in blade
a hand weapon with a length of metal sharpened on one or both sides and usually tapered to a sharp point once upon a time dueling with swords was the gentlemanly way to settle a point of honor

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 sword 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 So, how did David, small in stature relative to Goliath, defeat the giant without armor or a sword? — Linda Berckmann, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Aug. 2026 This is the leader who reaches for the sword and shield whenever trouble arrives. — Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sword
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sword
  1. blade
  2. steel
Noun
  • The grass will go dormant and the leaf blades will turn brown, but the crown and roots will remain alive, and the lawn will green up 1 to 2 weeks after significant rain.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Frequently asked questions Grass doesn’t last forever, and as individual blades die off from age, disease, pets, and everyday wear, your lawn will gradually thin out if there are no new seeds to replace them.
    — Amanda Tust, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of blade
Noun
  • Daemon, with his Valyrian steel warhelm and taste for annihilation, is who Rhaenyra needs riding shotgun now that Team Green has established a crown-seeking triumvirate of sons.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • In the past few years, the steel industry has been accelerating its deployment of large-scale AI that’s revolutionizing steel production.
    — Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of steel

Browse Nearby Words

swooshing
sword
swords
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sword.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sword. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of salvo

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

'Gaslighting,' 'Woke,' 'Democracy,' and Other Top Lookups
See More

Popular

See More

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

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
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