How to Use putty knife in a Sentence

putty knife

noun
  • Use your putty knife to apply wood filler in the holes.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Scrape off any loose bits of paint with a paint scraper or the tip of a putty knife.
    — Washington Post, 7 July 2021
  • Use the putty knife to spread it onto the wall for a smooth finish.
    — Sara Rodrigues, House Beautiful, 17 Mar. 2020
  • If the pots have a white build-up of salts, scrape them off with an old, dull knife or putty knife.
    — Lynn Coulter, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Oct. 2020
  • Use a plastic putty knife to fill and smooth over scratches.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Using a putty knife, fill all nail and screw holes with putty.
    — Chelsea Evers, Country Living, 6 July 2022
  • Scrape away any stuck-on mud with a putty knife or plastic scraper.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 10 Feb. 2026
  • First, use a utility knife and a putty knife to cut and scrape away the old caulk.
    — Brett Martin, Popular Mechanics, 12 Sep. 2017
  • Start by scraping off any blobs of paint with a flat edge such as a putty knife or butter knife.
    — Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 22 Oct. 2020
  • Debark two logs with a putty knife if the wood is seasoned, or a drawknife if the logs are green.
    — Roy Berendsohn and Mike Cunningham, Popular Mechanics, 3 Oct. 2020
  • Next, use a narrow putty knife to apply a thin coat of joint compound to the crack.
    — Joseph Truini and Merle Henkenius, Popular Mechanics, 18 Aug. 2020
  • When the walls are dry, patch any holes or cracks by applying joint compound with a putty knife.
    — Jennifer Barger, Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2023
  • Wait about 20 minutes, then scrape off the glue with a pocketknife or putty knife.
    — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 24 June 2019
  • Then, scrape off the glue with a pocketknife or putty knife—be careful not to scratch the surface.
    — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 24 June 2019
  • Wipe down the blades and body of the mower, and use a large putty knife to clean the underside of the deck.
    — Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 June 2026
  • Press the mixture into the crack with a putty knife and level the surface.
    — Washington Post, 19 Apr. 2021
  • Mix the resin and hardener and press the mixture into the screw holes with a putty knife.
    — Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2023
  • Scrape the area free of any leftover adhesive or thinset with a stiff putty knife.
    — Sal Vaglica, USA TODAY, 8 May 2022
  • Apply the adhesive to the sawdust and mix with a putty knife.
    — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 20 Nov. 2018
  • Create a smooth surface by scraping away cracked or peeling paint with a putty knife.
    — Nikolas Greenwald, Good Housekeeping, 24 Jan. 2023
  • After allowing the stripper to do its work, use a putty knife to scrape away the residue.
    — Laura Fenton, Washington Post, 31 May 2023
  • Apply the putty with a flexible putty knife to fill in the scratch.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Start by removing excess paint from the carpet with a putty knife.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 14 Apr. 2021
  • So be sure to scrape off the grass clippings at the end of each mowing session, using a putty knife.
    — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Whitaker used an electric drill, box cutter, screw driver and putty knife to take her life.
    — Cory Shaffer, cleveland.com, 1 Feb. 2018
  • Load spackling paste/compound on putty knife and draw it firmly across the crack, pressing in.
    — The Editors Of House Beautiful, House Beautiful, 11 Feb. 2015
  • Pull down on a side or on a corner, or use a putty knife to get behind the cover then pull it gently down.
    — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 17 July 2023
  • Rake remaining chunks of caulk from the joint using the hook end of a painter's five-in-one tool or a sharp putty knife.
    — Norman Becker, Popular Mechanics, 20 Feb. 2018
  • On a scrap piece of plywood, mix two-part epoxy and use a putty knife to spread it on the back of each plywood mounting block.
    — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 16 Jan. 2021
  • Squeeze the mortar into the joints and use a putty knife to smooth the application.
    — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 24 July 2021

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

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