I had clipped out the photo, feeling pathetic about the act from the moment I slipped my thumb into the scissor hole.
Source: wiktionary
Scissor
/ˈsɪzə/
Synonyms for "scissor" (45 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (9)
Strong matches (14)
Related words (22)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: amputate, ax, bisect, blade, butcher.
- Sentence evidence is available for scissor, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "scissor".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "scissor"
Keep "scissor" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "scissor" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "scissor", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "scissor" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
10 entriesedge trimmingembroidery scissorsfabric cuttinggarment cuttingleft bladepaper cuttingpattern cuttingright bladesafety scissorssurgical scissors
Collocations
11 entriesembroidery scissorspair of scissorssafety scissorsscissor actionscissor bladesscissor cutscissor jackscissor liftscissor marksscissor worksurgical scissors
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesTranslations
20 translations across 15 languages.
Biatah Bidayuh
1 entries- gutin verb (to cut using scissors)
Bulgarian
1 entries- режа с ножица verb (to cut using scissors)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 剪 verb (to cut using scissors)
Dutch
1 entries- knippen verb (to cut using scissors)
Finnish
3 entries- saksi- noun (noun adjunct)
- leikata saksilla verb (to cut using scissors)
- saksia verb (to cut using scissors)
French
1 entries- couper aux ciseaux verb (to cut using scissors)
Galician
1 entries- trosquiar verb (to cut using scissors)
Greek
1 entries- ψαλιδίζω verb (to cut using scissors)
Ido
1 entries- cizagar verb (to cut using scissors)
Khiamniungan Naga
1 entries- tìp verb (to cut using scissors)
Malay
1 entries- menggunting verb (to cut using scissors)
Māori
1 entries- kutikuti verb (to cut using scissors)
Norwegian
1 entries- klippe verb (to cut using scissors)
Swedish
3 entries- sax- noun (noun adjunct)
- klippa verb (to cut using scissors)
- saxa verb (to cut using scissors)
Turkish
2 entries- kayırtmak verb (to cut using scissors)
- makasla kesmek verb (to cut using scissors)
Sample sentences
20 total sentences available.
The records of the Cutlers’ Company of London (1624) refer to scissor-making in the city, although the quality of English-made scissors did not match that of continental scissors for another 100 years. A few English firms of scissor-makers, notably those of Beach, Macklin and Neesham, established a small but notable industry at Salisbury, Wilts, from the mid-17th century until the early 20th.
Source: wiktionary
The doctor came over and peeled off the makeshift bandage, cleaned what he could and looked at it. / “Well, I know what I have to do.” He nodded at me and picked up a scissor-type tool. / “Oh, ho, ho! Don’t you do that; don’t do it; don’t you be cutting that thing off. You stitch it up. I need that finger to chord a guitar!”
Source: wiktionary
He put his two fingers in the scissor holes. He pulled a stray wisp of hair from the thick braid that reached her waist. The small scissors sheared right through it.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 20 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "scissor"?
Closest matches include amputate, ax, bisect, blade, butcher.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "scissor"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.