Definition

Noun: 1. A small dagger with a tapered blade: A stiletto is a short, slender knife or dagger designed primarily for thrusting. Its defining characteristic is a long, thin, needle-like blade that tapers to a very sharp point, making it effective for penetrating deeply with minimal force. 2. A woman's shoe with a very high, thin heel: In modern fashion, a stiletto (or stiletto heel) is a type of high-heeled shoe characterized by a long, thin, metal-reinforced heel that resembles the shape of the dagger's blade.

Usage

• As a weapon:
  • The assassin concealed a stiletto in his boot.
  • The museum displayed a collection of Renaissance-era stilettos.
• As footwear:
  • She wore a pair of black stilettos to the party.
  • Walking on cobblestones in stilettos can be difficult.

Advanced Usage

• "Stiletto heel": The full term for the shoe heel, emphasizing its thin, sharp quality.
  • The stiletto heel on these shoes is over four inches tall.
• Used metaphorically to describe something sharp, pointed, or penetrating.
  • Her words were like a stiletto, precise and wounding. (This usage draws a direct comparison to the dagger's piercing quality.)

Variants and Related Words

• Stilettoed (adj.): Describing something equipped with or characterized by a stiletto or stiletto heel.
  • She made a stilettoed entrance.
• Stiletto heels (n. pl.): The common term for shoes with such heels.

Synonyms

• Dagger: A general term for a short, pointed knife used for stabbing.
• Poniard: A historical term for a small, slender dagger.
• Spike heel: A synonym for the heel on a shoe, though not always as thin as a true stiletto.

Related Phrases

• In stilettos: Wearing high-heeled shoes with stiletto heels.
  • She navigated the dance floor expertly in stilettos.

Noun

1. a small dagger with a tapered blade