shrapnel
noun
shrap·nel
ˈshrap-nᵊl 
especially Southern ˈsrap-
plural shrapnel
1
: a projectile that consists of a case provided with a powder charge and a large number of usually lead balls and that is exploded in flight
2
: bomb, mine, or shell fragments
Examples of shrapnel in a Sentence
He has a piece of shrapnel in his leg.
Shrapnel from the explosion wounded many people.
Recent Examples on the Web
As of this writing, one Palestinian in the West Bank was killed and two Israelis were injured in falling shrapnel.
—
The Editors, National Review, 2 Oct. 2024
Regional officials in both provinces attributed the blazes to falling shrapnel from drones downed by Russian air defense.
—Tony Hicks and Joanna Kozlowska, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2024
Digging Deeper On taking a position, the first thing a foot soldier does is use their entrenching tool to dig a shell scrape, a hole deep enough to hide in and protect against direct fire and shrapnel.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024
On Friday, at least two people in northern Israel were killed by shrapnel during a rocket barrage from Lebanon, according to Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency service.
—Wafaa Shurafa and Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
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The Editors, National Review, 2 Oct. 2024
Regional officials in both provinces attributed the blazes to falling shrapnel from drones downed by Russian air defense.
—Tony Hicks and Joanna Kozlowska, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2024
Digging Deeper On taking a position, the first thing a foot soldier does is use their entrenching tool to dig a shell scrape, a hole deep enough to hide in and protect against direct fire and shrapnel.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024
On Friday, at least two people in northern Israel were killed by shrapnel during a rocket barrage from Lebanon, according to Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency service.
—Wafaa Shurafa and Bassem Mroue, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for shrapnel
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Dictionary Entries Near shrapnel
Cite this Entry
“Shrapnel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrapnel. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shrapnel
noun
shrap·nel
ˈshrap-nᵊl
plural shrapnel
1
: a shell designed to burst and scatter metal balls with which it is filled along with jagged fragments of the case
2
: metal pieces from an exploded bomb, shell, or mine
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