chiselled

chiselled — adjective

IPA/ˈtʃɪzld/
IPA/ˈtʃɪzld/
  • chiselledpositive
  • more chiselledcomparative
  • most chiselledsuperlative

1. having a face shape that is strongly defined and attractive, with a clear jaw, h

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

having a face shape that is strongly defined and attractive, with a clear jaw, high cheekbones, and a visible bone structure — as if carved by a sculptor.

Example

Luca's chiselled jawline made him a popular choice for menswear magazine covers.

chiselled + jawline — most common collocation

Even at sixty, the retired general still had chiselled features and an upright posture.

chiselled + features (plural, referring to the whole face)

Common collocations
  • chiselled jawline
  • chiselled features
  • chiselled cheekbones
  • chiselled profile
  • chiselled face
  • chiselled chin
Synonyms
  • sculpted

    softer, more three-dimensional; can also describe muscles

  • defined

    neutral; can describe any clear body part

  • well-cut

    less common; suggests deliberate aesthetic quality

Antonyms
  • soft

    lacking angular definition; round or fleshy face shape

  • indistinct

    blurry or undefined facial contours

  • fleshy

    full-faced, where bone structure is hidden under tissue

Grammar Patterns

chiselled + noun (jaw, profile, cheekbones, features, chin)

Usage Note

Almost always used to describe a man's face or specific facial features (jaw, cheekbones, chin, profile). Not used for women's faces or for body parts below the neck.

Common Mistakes

She has chiselled cheekbones.
She has high cheekbones.
'chiselled' is traditionally used for men and strongly implies masculine beauty.
He has chiselled shoulders.
He has broad shoulders.
'chiselled' only describes the face and facial features, not body parts.

chiselled — verb

IPA/tʃˈɪzəld/
IPA/tʃˈɪzəld/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe attractive, clear facial features, but differ in tone and scope. 'Sculpted' implies softer, more rounded contours — like clay modelling — and can also describe body parts (sculpted shoulders). 'Defined' is the most neutral; it can apply to any clear contour (defined jaw, defined muscles) without admiration. 'Sharp' can sound critical in some contexts (a sharp nose, sharp chin) whereas 'chiselled' always carries admiration and implies masculine strength. 'Well-cut' is less common and usually refers to a specific feature like a well-cut jaw. To compare: 'His chiselled jawline' (admiring, strong) vs. 'His defined jawline' (neutral observation) vs. 'His sharp features' (could be neutral or slightly negative).

sculpted ↗defined ↗sharp ↗well-cut

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • finely chiselled
  • beautifully chiselled
  • perfectly chiselled

Phrases

  • chiselled features
  • chiselled jawline
  • chisel away at
  • chisel someone out of something

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word comes from the noun 'chisel', which entered English from Old French 'cisel' (a cutting tool), and can be traced further back to Latin 'caesus', the past participle of 'caedere' (to cut). The adjective use of 'chiselled' to describe a man's sharply defined facial features appeared in the 19th century, drawing a direct comparison to the clean lines produced by a sculptor's chisel.

First known use

1509

1509, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1 Adjective