razor wire

noun

: coiled wire fitted with sharp razor edges and used as an obstacle or barrier

Examples of razor wire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web As part of a broader, multi-billion-dollar campaign known as Operation Lone Star, Abbott has instructed state National Guard troops to put up concertina and razor wire, as well as other barriers, along parts of Texas' border with Mexico. Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024 In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court allowed the administration to remove razor wire barriers that Texas erected along a 29-mile stretch of the Rio Grande meant to block migrants at the Southwest border. Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024 Late last year, Mexican officials installed a chain-link fence reinforced with razor wire at the top and bottom along a stretch of the Tijuana River channel in response to mass crossing incidents reported in the area. Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2024 National Guard members have also installed barricades and razor wire. Democrat-Gazette Staff and Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 2 Feb. 2024 The Supreme Court, halfheartedly stepped in with a 5-4 ruling to say that federal officials could remove the razor wire that Abbott had ordered installed. TIME, 1 Feb. 2024 But Mayorkas disputed Abbott's claim on Friday, noting that some stretches of the Texas-Mexico border were fortified with razor wire late last year, when migrant crossings were soaring to record levels, including in the Texas border town of Eagle Pass. Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024 But reams of razor wire installed by the Texas National Guard, at the governor's direction, remain on the banks of the Rio Grande in El Paso. Lauren Villagran, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024 First, troops unspooled razor wire and deployed river buoys (more on that below). Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'razor wire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of razor wire was in 1973

Dictionary Entries Near razor wire

Cite this Entry

“Razor wire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/razor%20wire. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!