as in knife
an instrument with a metal length that has a sharp edge for cutting
slashed at the prison guard with a shank he had secretly made from a scrap of metal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shank
Those looking to push place and weight across technical terrain should invest in a good pair of hiking boots with a stiff, supportive shank.
—
Ian Graber-Stiehl, Outside, 5 Dec. 2025
After a quick three-and-out by the offense and a brutal 26-yard shank by punter Jamie Gillan, the defense again had an opportunity to finish the game.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Boos rain down as Jeremy Crawshaw shanks that punt off the side of his foot.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2025
Homemade knives, called shanks, are plentiful inside the prison, several inmates said.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shank
Ian Graber-Stiehl, Outside, 5 Dec. 2025
After a quick three-and-out by the offense and a brutal 26-yard shank by punter Jamie Gillan, the defense again had an opportunity to finish the game.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Boos rain down as Jeremy Crawshaw shanks that punt off the side of his foot.
—Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2025
Homemade knives, called shanks, are plentiful inside the prison, several inmates said.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shank
Noun
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Police recovered a knife at the scene and took two people of interest into custody, authorities said.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
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Allen was armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives, officials said.—
Bridget Byrne,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Then Vodnik threw a first-pitch cutter to Gavin Sheets.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
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The Coast Guard shared video of Air Force pararescuemen leaping from a C-130 Hercules airplane to meet the crew of a Coast Guard cutter on Sunday.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shank. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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