knife-edge

noun

1
: a sharp wedge of steel or other hard material used as a fulcrum for a lever beam in a precision instrument
2
: a sharp narrow knifelike edge

Examples of knife-edge in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Local politics are also on a knife-edge due to the rise of the AfD party, ahead of general elections on February 23, which has led to street protests in Berlin in recent weeks. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2025 This eye-catching piece features two knife-edge Vs with matching 3-prong settings that elegantly secure Round Brilliant VRAI created diamonds. Angela Lei, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024 This four-piece set of 16-inch by 16-inch knife-edge outdoor throw pillows is perfect for accessorizing outside living areas. Nora Colomer, Fox News, 4 Dec. 2024 Speaking to a regional health board last month, Regina Coeli's governor, Claudia Clementi, said overcrowding meant the dilapidated facility was operating on a knife-edge. Rebecca Messina, theweek, 9 Dec. 2024 With the race widely believed to be on a knife-edge, some pundits suggested the gaffe could be fatal to the Trump campaign, in part because there is a significant Puerto Rican community in the key state of Pennsylvania. Shane Croucher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024 The Republican candidate and Democrat rival Kamala Harris will soon know how the votes will finally land after months of knife-edge campaigning. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 The knife-edge finish — with fewer than 1% of ballots still to be counted — is far from a resounding endorsement of the pro-EU path that Sandu has pursued over four years at the helm of the small ex-Soviet republic tugged between Russia and the West. Reuters, NBC News, 21 Oct. 2024 With the game on a knife-edge, it was left to Ionescu to be the difference. Ben Church, CNN, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of knife-edge was in 1818

Dictionary Entries Near knife-edge

Cite this Entry

“Knife-edge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knife-edge. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

knife-edge

noun
ˈnī-ˌfej
: a sharp wedge usually of steel used as a support for a lever beam in a very exact instrument (as a balance)
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