stiletto
noun
sti·let·to stə-ˈle-(ˌ)tō 
plural stilettos or stilettoes
1
: a slender dagger with a blade thick in proportion to its breadth
2
: a pointed instrument for piercing holes for eyelets or embroidery
3
: stiletto heel
also : a shoe with a stiletto heel
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web O’Farrell creeps into this gloomy realm of intrigue with an inkwell full of blood and a stiletto for her pen. 
Ron Charles, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 The newlyweds enjoyed a romantic birthday dinner for Lopez near the Eiffel Tower late Sunday evening, during which Lopez, 53, wore a long black dress, stiletto heels, a pearl necklace and sparkly earrings. Peter Mikelbank, PEOPLE.com, 25 July 2022 Why deal with the fuss of a stiletto when a ballerina, loafer, or slide does the job just as well. Vogue, 22 June 2022 In Tuscany, that can also mean harrowing hairpin turns, ancient hill towns and cobblestone lanes whose margin for error to a driver is as slim as a stiletto. Cathy Huyghe, Forbes, 27 May 2022 Gone are the tailored suits and stiletto heels, replaced by denim skirts and white sneakers. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2022 Kardashian is wearing Balenciaga jeans, a black funnel-neck sweatshirt, and stiletto boots. Danielle Pergament, Allure, 8 July 2022 This shape offers the length of a stiletto nail without the sharp drama of the tip. Kristi Kellogg, Allure, 20 July 2022 Edge nails form a point, but the point is not as long as a stiletto shape or as aggressive as an arrowhead. Kristi Kellogg, Allure, 20 July 2022 See More
Ron Charles, Washington Post, 30 Aug. 2022 The newlyweds enjoyed a romantic birthday dinner for Lopez near the Eiffel Tower late Sunday evening, during which Lopez, 53, wore a long black dress, stiletto heels, a pearl necklace and sparkly earrings. Peter Mikelbank, PEOPLE.com, 25 July 2022 Why deal with the fuss of a stiletto when a ballerina, loafer, or slide does the job just as well. Vogue, 22 June 2022 In Tuscany, that can also mean harrowing hairpin turns, ancient hill towns and cobblestone lanes whose margin for error to a driver is as slim as a stiletto. Cathy Huyghe, Forbes, 27 May 2022 Gone are the tailored suits and stiletto heels, replaced by denim skirts and white sneakers. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2022 Kardashian is wearing Balenciaga jeans, a black funnel-neck sweatshirt, and stiletto boots. Danielle Pergament, Allure, 8 July 2022 This shape offers the length of a stiletto nail without the sharp drama of the tip. Kristi Kellogg, Allure, 20 July 2022 Edge nails form a point, but the point is not as long as a stiletto shape or as aggressive as an arrowhead. Kristi Kellogg, Allure, 20 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Italian, diminutive of stilo stylus, dagger, from Latin stilus stylus — more at style
First Known Use
circa 1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing stiletto
Kids Definition
stiletto
noun
sti·let·to stə-ˈle-tō
plural stilettos or stilettoes
: a knife with a slender pointed blade
stiletto
noun
as in dagger
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- dagger
- switchblade
- knife
- poniard
- machete
- bodkin
- bayonet
- cutlass
- pocketknife
- yataghan
- cutter
- bolo
- dirk
- bowie knife
- shank
- steel
- sword
- sheath knife
- stylet
- cleaver
- shiv
- rapier
- switch knife
- jackknife
- scalpel
- saber
- sabre
- hack
