stab

noun \ ˈstab \

|Updated on: 22 Jun 2018

Examples: stab in a Sentence

Definition of stab

1 : a wound produced by a pointed object or weapon

2 a : a thrust of a pointed weapon

b : a jerky thrust

3 : effort, try

4 : a sudden sharp feeling

stabs of regret

See stab defined for English-language learners

See stab defined for kids

Examples of stab in a Sentence

the injection left a small stab on her upper arm
everybody will get a stab at solving the problem

Recent Examples of stab from the Web

The state commissioned the report after a Feb. 20 attack on a prison guard sent the officer to the hospital for weeks with multiple stab wounds.

— andrew welsh-huggins, Fox News, "APNewsBreak: Prison staff 'complacency' blamed for stabbing," 13 June 2018
Owen Dillard was discovered with multiple stab wounds to his neck at about 8:35 p.m. by his 60-year-old fiancee, the New York Post reported.

— william cummings, USA TODAY, "Two-time lottery winner found stabbed to death in his Bronx apartment, police say," 12 June 2018
Alexander Munchweiler, a 61-year-old hairdresser, was found on the living room floor of his Walnut Street apartment with stab wounds to the chest, stomach, and arm.

— chris palmer, Philly.com, "Philly man who fatally stabbed 3 Center City gay men in 1989 is found dead in prison," 12 June 2018
The victim, believed to be Native American, suffered multiple stab wounds but an official cause of death is pending an autopsy, Fisher said.

— nathan j. fish, azcentral, "FBI investigates homicide in Navajo Nation," 11 June 2018
Just three hours later a man was found laying in a pool of blood on a Venice street with stab wounds to his face and upper body.

— chelsea white, PEOPLE.com, "Redmond O'Neal Charged with Attempted Murder After Allegedly Stabbing 2 Men During 'Crime Spree'," 9 June 2018
An adult male suffering from at least one stab wound was found around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday in the 2600 block of Southeastern Avenue.

— justin l. mack, Indianapolis Star, "Indianapolis police: Man stabbed to death east side," 6 June 2018
The woman was suffering from a broken arm, stab wounds to her abdomen, marks from being hit with a blunt object, a leg infection and a possible fractured jaw, authorities said.

— nicholas rondinone, courant.com, "Springfield Man Faces Judge On New Charges Days After Three Bodies Found At Home," 4 June 2018
According to the report, police were called to Wake Forest Road, arriving to find the victim with multiple stab wounds.

— the web staff, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Man accused of stabbing roommate to death in fight over groceries in Palm Bay: report," 2 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stab.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of stab

Middle English stabbe

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

stab Synonyms

Synonyms

perforation, pinhole, pinprick, prick, punch, puncture;

Related Words

gouge, groove, hollow;

break, cut, gash, incision, laceration, notch, rent, rip, rupture, slash, slit, tear;

stab

verb

Definition of stab

stabbed; stabbing

transitive verb

1 : to wound or pierce by the thrust of a pointed object or weapon

2 : thrust, drive

intransitive verb

: to thrust or give a wound with or as if with a pointed weapon

—

stabber

noun

— stab in the back

: betray

See stab defined for English-language learners

Examples of stab in a Sentence

He stabbed her with a dagger.
The victim was stabbed in the chest five times.

Recent Examples of stab from the Web

Gonzalez said Estrada had deep puncture wounds from being stabbed seven times — on the right side of his throat, the left and back side of his head, and suffered defense wounds on his hands.

— elizabeth zavala, San Antonio Express-News, "San Antonio man accused in fatal 2015 stabbing was victim’s lover," 19 June 2018
Two men beat and stabbed another man inside a gas station adjacent to San Diego State University's campus late Saturday, fled the scene, then returned in time to be greeted by police, an officer said.

— city news service, sandiegouniontribune.com, "2 arrested in attack on man inside gas station near SDSU," 10 June 2018
Davila-Rangel admitted stabbing Molina, according to the report.

— matthew martinez, star-telegram, "Teen was performing sex act on 54-year-old before cutting his throat from ear to ear, Texas cops say," 5 June 2018
Mr Conte’s first stab at heading a government was scotched by Sergio Mattarella, the president, on May 27th.

— The Economist, "Italy, at last, gets a new government," 1 June 2018
On Tuesday morning, the man stabbed two policewomen from behind before stealing their service weapons and using them to kill the officers.

— nina dos santos and lauren said-moorhouse, CNN, "Belgium attacker had killed another person the day before," 30 May 2018
Four men have been charged with aggravated assault in a fight that led to the stabbing death of a 19-year-old man in Paulsboro, Gloucester County authorities said Tuesday.

— robert moran, Philly.com, "Four men charged in stabbing death of Paulsboro man," 22 May 2018
Markeisha Elliot, 26, is charged with murder in the stabbing death of 21-year-old Shawnice Johnson.

— kevin grasha, Cincinnati.com, "'I'm scared. My baby, my baby,' were young mother's last words, prosecutor says," 8 May 2018
The town hall was organized following the stabbing death of 36-year-old Joshua Fitzpatrick on Saturday and subsequent arrest of a homeless man who had been released from prison a few weeks earlier.

— brieanna j frank, azcentral, "Stabbing death prompts worry about Phoenix homeless population," 5 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of stab

1530

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

stab Synonyms

Synonyms

gore, harpoon, impale, jab, lance, peck, pick, pierce, pink, puncture, run through, skewer, spear, spike, spit, stick, transfix;

Related Words

spindle;

perforate, riddle;

bayonet, dirk, gimlet, pike, poniard, prong, quill;

pinprick, poke, prick, punch, thrust;

cut, knife, slice;

STAB Defined for English Language Learners

stab

noun

Definition of stab for English Language Learners

: a wound made by a pointed weapon (such as a knife)
: a sudden, strong feeling of physical or emotional pain
: an attempt to do something successfully

stab

verb

Definition of stab for English Language Learners

: to wound (someone or something) with a pointed weapon (such as a knife)
: to quickly or suddenly push a pointed object into or toward someone or something

STAB Defined for Kids

stab

noun \ ˈstab \

Definition of stab for Students

1 : a wound produced by or as if by a pointed weapon

2 : ²thrust 1

His first stab missed.

3 : ²try, effort

Take a stab at the answer.

stab

verb

Definition of stab for Students

stabbed; stabbing

1 : to wound or pierce with or as if with a pointed weapon

2 : ¹drive 4, thrust

… Humbug gingerly stabbed his cane in the air …
—Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth

Medical Dictionary

stab

noun \ ˈstab \

medical Definition of stab

1 : a wound produced by a pointed object or weapon

2 a : a culture medium solidified in an upright column in a tube to reduce the surface to a minimum — compare slant

b : stab culture

stab

transitive verb

medical Definition of stab

stabbed; stabbing

: to wound or pierce by the thrust of a pointed object or weapon

Learn More about stab

See words that rhyme with stab Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for stab Spanish Central: Translation of stab Nglish: Translation of stab for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of stab for Arabic speakers

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stab

Definition of stab

Examples of stab in a Sentence

Recent Examples of stab from the Web

Origin and Etymology of stab

stab Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

stab

Definition of stab

stabber

Examples of stab in a Sentence

Recent Examples of stab from the Web

First Known Use of stab

stab Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Phrases Related to STAB

Related Phrases

STAB Defined for English Language Learners

stab

Definition of stab for English Language Learners

stab

Definition of stab for English Language Learners

STAB Defined for Kids

stab

Definition of stab for Students

stab

Definition of stab for Students

Medical Dictionary

stab

medical Definition of stab

stab

medical Definition of stab

Learn More about stab

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