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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harpoon
Ari Daniel, NPR, 24 Nov. 2025
Additional lines and a harpoon followed before the hunters subdued the gator.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Reynolds claimed to have met the first mate of a whale ship who battled the great one with a darting harpoon and hundreds of feet of 3/4-inch line flying from the rope tub.
—Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
Ali reportedly tried to use a handheld harpoon while trying to access the apartment through the house’s front door before trying to break a window and smash his way inside.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harpoon
Noun
Scientists have confirmed the observation by examining proteins in the eye lenses of the whales and dating harpoons embedded in the flesh of these animals.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 24 Nov. 2025
Additional lines and a harpoon followed before the hunters subdued the gator.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Reynolds claimed to have met the first mate of a whale ship who battled the great one with a darting harpoon and hundreds of feet of 3/4-inch line flying from the rope tub.
—Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
Ali reportedly tried to use a handheld harpoon while trying to access the apartment through the house’s front door before trying to break a window and smash his way inside.
—David Matthews, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harpoon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harpoon
Verb
-
Bahm, who was on a call with 911 pleading for help, was also fatally stabbed after Fahim pushed through the door while Bahm was still on the call.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
Joao Palhinha drove into the box and stabbed over with his left foot.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
In 2023, the Seattle Mariners introduced a 6-feet, 6-inch tall metal trident that a home run hitter shows off after going deep.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Grasping hands reach out in despair, deities wield tridents and divine lotus flowers symbolize the 16 levels of Brahma (higher realms).—
Vicky Smith,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Gabrielle’s unflinching competence and dynamism belie acute sensitivity, and the actress allows hints of child-like hurt and hesitation to pierce the carapace.—
Jon Frosch,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
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Because errors constantly occurred and changes were frequently made to the code, Hamilton sometimes edited the printout by hand by sealing excess holes with clear tape or piercing missing ones in the paper tape with a sharp pencil.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Reigns hit up a popup Superman punch and a spear.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
As Rollins got back into the ring, Breakker hit him with a spear.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Yet the rebuttal did not totally puncture Axelsson’s belief in inflatable furniture.—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
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In rare cases, Asamoah says a colon cleanse could puncture your bowel, which may cause a severe infection or even be life-threatening.—
Erica Sweeney,
Time,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Those Swiss guards would take that halberd and just take you down.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The retainer then struck her down with a halberd, set the mansion ablaze, and committed seppuku.—
Nicholas Liu,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2024
Verb
-
The president has kept up his criticism of Leo, jabbing the pope in a May 4 interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on the eve of Rubio’s visit.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
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In the 10 months since, Colbert has not held back, regularly jabbing his network, its new owners’ cozy relationship with the president and reports that his show was hemorrhaging $40 million a year.—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Other perennial species are starting to become more widely available at specialty nurseries including lance leaf blanket flower, Gaillardia aestivalis, which is native to the southeastern United States.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
4 May 2026
-
The washer includes a spray gun and spray lance, plus a high-pressure hose.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harpoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harpoon. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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