as in to stab
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
she deftly harpooned a shrimp with her skewer and held it over the fire
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harpoon
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Someone is then shot with a harpoon, only to have their guts pulled like taffy from the wound.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2025
With a microscope, these setae look like harpoons, and they’re filled with cocktails of venom proteins that are to scientists like Walker what light is to moths.
—Ivan Amato, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
After trying to convince the disgruntled clerk to take it off his hands, the monkey bangs its drum, causing a harpoon gun on display to impale the clerk and rip out his entrails.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harpoon
Verb
Later, the antler was likely repurposed as part of a harpoon, a pointed spear used to catch fish.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Someone is then shot with a harpoon, only to have their guts pulled like taffy from the wound.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2025
With a microscope, these setae look like harpoons, and they’re filled with cocktails of venom proteins that are to scientists like Walker what light is to moths.
—Ivan Amato, Scientific American, 30 Jan. 2025
After trying to convince the disgruntled clerk to take it off his hands, the monkey bangs its drum, causing a harpoon gun on display to impale the clerk and rip out his entrails.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harpoon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harpoon
Verb
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At some point, one of Valle's friends allegedly gave him a knife, which was used during the brawl to stab McGrath.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
11 July 2025
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Porter was seen using his right hand to stab Abdirahman in the neck, according to the court documents.—
Mike Stunson
July 10,
Kansas City Star,
10 July 2025
Noun
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In the prequel, wildcard Edwards is discharged from the SEALs after an operation, and his coveted trident insignia is removed from his uniform.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
29 May 2025
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More minutes should follow in the States, even if Mbaye has the unenviable task of trying to break into one of Europe’s most devastating attacking tridents.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
Verb
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With piercing honesty and raw emotion, Jean Smart delivers a powerful monologue in Call Me Izzy, a new play written by Jamie Wax and directed by Sarna Lapine.—
H. Alan Scott,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
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The hot nights pierced with cold decisions on young men’s futures.—
Devon Henderson,
Oc Register,
6 July 2025
Noun
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This Windy City homage features mustard, relish, tomatoes, sport peppers, onions, celery salt, and a pickle spear on a poppy seed bun.—
Nasha Smith,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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Chicago Dog: mustard, relish, dill pickle spear, tomato slices, sport peppers, and celery salt.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Steering column was pushed into his chest, broke his ribs, rib punctured his heart.—
Darlin Tillery,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 July 2025
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Another teen girl was stabbed, her lung punctured, during the melee.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
30 June 2025
Noun
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During different events, the guards will add white gloves, a black helmet and/or the halberd.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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The retainer then struck her down with a halberd, set the mansion ablaze, and committed seppuku.—
Nicholas Liu,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2024
Verb
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Former Major League Baseball (MLB) starter Trevor Bauer took Pete Rose’s reinstatement as another avenue to jab the league.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2025
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Nearly 150 people were jabbed with syringes during a street music festival in France, the country’s interior ministry said, adding that authorities had arrested at least 12 suspects.—
Astha Rajvanshi,
NBC news,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Thompson will need to prove the most in this area to stick, as well.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
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The new websites offer a variety of information that appears to stick closely to generally accepted definitions and science around geoengineering and the government’s ongoing research on contrails.—
Pilar Melendez,
NBC news,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harpoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harpoon. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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