dagger

noun

dag·​ger ˈda-gər 

1

: a sharp pointed knife for stabbing

2

a

: something that resembles a dagger

b

: a character † used as a reference mark or to indicate a death date

daggerlike

ˈda-gər-ˌlīk 

adjective

Phrases

at daggers drawn

: in a state of open hostility or conflict

look daggers or stare daggers

: to stare angrily

they looked daggers at each other across the table

Examples of dagger in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That made it 21-7 and was the dagger the 49ers needed, the type of third-down conversion that proved this offense could survive without McCaffrey, Samuel and Kittle. —Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2024

This car is all daggers from the point of its nose to the tip of its tail, with a gobstopping eyeful of the engine right inside, thanks to the see-through panel in the back. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune Europe, 9 Sep. 2024

For the second time in his career, Bulldogs star Antonio Harris completed a 2-point conversion pass to put a dagger into rival St. Xavier. —Rich Barak, The Courier-Journal, 7 Sep. 2024

In handing out gift boxes with a candlestick, revolver, rope, lead pipe, wrench and dagger, Mr. Boddy has set in motion a game that by the end will leave the mansion strewn with corpses. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dagger

• cloak-and-dagger
• double dagger

Kids Definition

dagger

noun

dag·​ger ˈdag-ər 

1

: a short weapon for stabbing

2

: a symbol † used in printing as a reference mark to indicate a death date