squib

1 of 2

noun

ˈskwib 

1

a

: a short humorous or satiric writing or speech

b

: a short news item

especially : filler

2

a

: a small firecracker

b

: a broken firecracker in which the powder burns with a fizz

3

: a small electric or pyrotechnic device used to ignite a charge

squib

2 of 2

verb

squibbed; squibbing

intransitive verb

1

: to speak, write, or publish squibs

2

: to fire a squib

transitive verb

1

a

: to utter in an offhand manner

b

: to make squibs against : lampoon

2

: to shoot off : fire

3

: to kick (a football) on a kickoff so that it bounces along the ground

Examples of squib in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Tyler Locklear dribbled an infield squib hit to rookie third baseman Kyle Karros, who couldn’t make the tough play, allowing Arizona to load the bases. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2025

Despite the proclamations of victory hailing from progressives across religious lines, the explosive document was ultimately a squib — the kind of pyrotechnic device used by Hollywood to achieve a particular incendiary effect but that inflicts no real damage. —Kayla Bartsch, National Review, 20 Dec. 2023

Verb

But then Sean McDermott, the Bills coach, elected to kick the ball deep instead of squibbing it and bleeding a little more time off the clock. —Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 20 Jan. 2024

Having just scored to regain the lead, Clay-Chalkville tried to squib the ensuing kickoff. —Ben Thomas | [e-mail], al, 3 Dec. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing squib

• damp squib
• squib kick

Rhymes for squib

• bib
• bibb
• crib
• gib
• glib
• jib
• lib
• mib
• nib
• rib
• sib
• imatinib

Kids Definition

squib

noun

ˈskwib

: a short humorous or witty writing or speech