jawbone

1 of 2

noun

jaw·​bone ˈjȯ-ˌbōn 

: jaw sense 1a

especially : mandible

jawbone

2 of 2

verb

jawboned; jawboning; jawbones

transitive verb

: to speak forcefully and persuasively to

jawboned them into accepting the deal

intransitive verb

: to talk especially forcefully and persuasively

jawboning about the tax cuts

Examples of jawbone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Workers and queens also have very similar appearances, with long, slender bodies that are dark brown or black, and legs and mandibles (jawbones) that are a lighter brown or orange color, the extension says. —Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 16 June 2025

In addition to the small bones, the millennial couple from the U.K. also found a pair of stockings and what looks to be a jawbone. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025

Verb

The idea is that the shadow chair could jawbone markets into easing financial conditions, such as lowering bond yields, before taking office and undermine Powell’s messaging in his final months. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 7 July 2025

These comments indicate the administration is focused not on jawboning the Fed to lower its short-term rate target, but on longer-term borrowing costs set in the global bond market. —Neil Irwin, Axios, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1965, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for jawbone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone

Kids Definition

jawbone

noun

jaw·​bone

ˈjȯ-ˈbōn,

-ˌbōn

: one of the bones of an animal's jaw

especially : mandible sense 1a

Medical Definition

jawbone

noun

jaw·​bone ˈjȯ-ˈbōn, -ˌbōn 

: jaw sense 1

especially : mandible