stab

noun

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\ ˈstab

Definition of stab

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a wound produced by a pointed object or weapon

2a : a thrust of a pointed weapon

b : a jerky thrust

3 : effort, try

4 : a sudden sharp feeling stabs of regret

stab

verb

stabbed; stabbing

Definition of stab (Entry 2 of 2)

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

stab in the back

: betray

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Examples of stab in a Sentence

Noun the injection left a small stab on her upper arm everybody will get a stab at solving the problem Verb He stabbed her with a dagger. The victim was stabbed in the chest five times.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun McCrary died of multiple stab wounds and investigators at the time believed that robbery may have been the motive. — Tandra Smith | Tsmith@al.com, al, "Mobile police arrest Arizona man in woman’s 1988 stabbing death," 4 May 2021 Two adult Asian women with stab wounds were taken to a hospital, but the extent of their injuries is unknown, according to the department. — Leila Miller Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, "San Francisco police arrest suspect in stabbing of two Asian women," 4 May 2021 One year ago, Nina Pop was found dead with multiple stab wounds inside her apartment in Sikeston, Mo. — Elle Moxley, Time, "Protesters Demanded Justice for Nina Pop. A Year After Her Death, What Happened to Everyone Saying Black Trans Lives Matter?," 3 May 2021 When Hezar went to the bathroom, Ince walked to the master bedroom, opened the door and saw Borat on the bed with multiple stab wounds. — Nataly Keomoungkhoun, Dallas News, "Allen man who police believe killed his mother, sister was having an ‘episode,’ affidavit says," 27 Apr. 2021 That emerald stab of Dior silk that Anya Taylor-Joy wielded at the Golden Globes? — Faran Krentcil, Harper's BAZAAR, "Law Roach Isn’t Playing by Hollywood’s Rules," 2 Apr. 2021 For venue owners like Rizzo who do want to give partial-capacity shows a stab, the planning alone is exhaustive. — Samantha Hissong, Rolling Stone, "Why Limited-Capacity Concerts Just Don’t Make Sense," 26 Feb. 2021 The unique design gave the user the ability to strike, stab, and slash enemy combatants with devastating results. — Matt Fratus, Field & Stream, "The Stories Behind 7 Infamous U.S. Military Knives," 19 Aug. 2020 The game is trying to answer the question of why the genre is so infused with violence by making the player shoot, stab, and strangle their way through area after area, all filled with enemies who are suspicious of trespassers. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "The Last of Us Part II Tests the Limits of Video-Game Violence," 1 July 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The death of Ma'Khia Bryant, who was shot and killed by a police officer in Ohio after trying to stab a woman with a knife, had some on the Left questioning the appropriateness of an armed response from police. — Joseph Simonson, Washington Examiner, "Democrats move ahead with sweeping police reforms that will 'embolden criminals,' critics say," 29 Apr. 2021 Clearly this girl intended to stab two of her peers. — Star Tribune, "Readers Write: The 2020 census, Kim Potter, police use of force, a gun at a Plymouth school," 27 Apr. 2021 In one of two 911 calls played at a news conference Wednesday, screaming could be heard as a caller reported a girl trying to stab the individual before the call disconnected. — Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, "LeBron James explains why he deleted tweet about Columbus police shooting of Ma'Khia Bryant," 22 Apr. 2021 An officer arrived at the scene and opened fire when the girl appeared to attempt to stab a second woman. — Ray Sanchez, CNN, "Relatives of Ma'Khia Bryant, Black teen fatally shot by police, appeal for justice," 22 Apr. 2021 In the first call, a woman or girl was heard asking police to come to the house and saying someone was trying to stab people there. — al, "Columbus, Ohio police officer who killed Ma’Khia Bryant identified, 911 calls released," 21 Apr. 2021 Records have not indicated what prompted Zhu to leave her Charleston Park Drive home that morning and stab the child. — Jared Goffinet, The Enquirer, "Woman indicted on charges after stabbing young boy, court docs show," 12 Apr. 2021 The suspect, later identified in court records as 26-year-old Bryan Nigel Beach of Simpsonville, had also tried to cut himself before attempting to stab an officer, according to an arrest citation. — Billy Kobin, The Courier-Journal, "KSP releases footage of Louisville officer shooting armed man by a Walmart," 18 Mar. 2021 The caller reported a female was trying to stab them, then the caller hung up. — Christal Hayes, USA TODAY, "Across the US, a tidal wave of joy fills city streets after Derek Chauvin is convicted in the death of George Floyd," 21 Apr. 2021

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.