What does "stiletto" mean?
A small, slender knife or dagger-like weapon intended for stabbing.
Stiletto
/stɪˈlɛtoʊ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A small, slender knife or dagger-like weapon intended for stabbing.
- Grammar: stiletto is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: awl, bayonet, blade, bodkin.
- Useful contrasts: blunt, blunt instrument, bulky.
- Usage evidence: The plump young woman thrust the heel of her stiletto into my big toe under the pretence that I had been too forceful.
How to use "stiletto"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "stiletto" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "stiletto" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "stiletto" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "stiletto" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "stiletto" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "awl" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "stiletto", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A small, slender knife or dagger-like weapon intended for stabbing.
"There the cause of death was soon ascertained; the victim of this daring outrage had been stabbed to death from ear to ear with a long, sharp instrument, in shape like an antique stiletto, which, I may tell you, was subsequently found under the cushions of the hansom."
- 2 a small dagger with a tapered blade wordnet
- 3 A rapier.
- 4 An awl.
- 5 A woman's shoe with a tall, slender heel (called a stiletto heel).
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A beard trimmed into a pointed form. historical, obsolete
"The very quaik of faſhions, the very hee that / VVeares a Steletto on his chinne."
Verb
- 1 To attack or kill with a stiletto (dagger). transitive
"The recollection of former atrocities by the populace in plundering the city and stilettoing the inhabitants, is sufficiently fresh in the remembrance of the government to serve as an additional stimulus to prevent similar disorders."
Example
"The plump young woman thrust the heel of her stiletto into my big toe under the pretence that I had been too forceful."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "stiletto"?
Common synonyms include: awl, bayonet, blade, bodkin, bodkins, dagger.
How do you use "stiletto" in a sentence?
The plump young woman thrust the heel of her stiletto into my big toe under the pretence that I had been too forceful.
How do you pronounce "stiletto"?
Pronounced /stɪˈlɛtoʊ/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian stiletto. Doublet of stylet.