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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harpoon
Jack Dunn, Variety, 4 Mar. 2025
Someone is then shot with a harpoon, only to have their guts pulled like taffy from the wound.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2025
Scientists have also drawn on historical evidence—the harpoon tips embedded in the animals’ blubber.
—Bymitch Leslie, science.org, 20 Dec. 2024
Gress was arrested Wednesday on suspicion drug possession and pointing a harpoon at his partner, police said.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harpoon
Noun
The harpoon gun shot was entirely real.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 4 Mar. 2025
Someone is then shot with a harpoon, only to have their guts pulled like taffy from the wound.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2025
Scientists have also drawn on historical evidence—the harpoon tips embedded in the animals’ blubber.
—Bymitch Leslie, science.org, 20 Dec. 2024
Gress was arrested Wednesday on suspicion drug possession and pointing a harpoon at his partner, police said.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harpoon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harpoon
Verb
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But when that program was repealed, Maria was forced to send her daughter to the local public school where, recently, three students were charged with stabbing, running over, and burning a fellow student.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 May 2025
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He was also suspected in a different stabbing several weeks ago in Bridgeport.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2025
Noun
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The Seattle Mariners have celebrated home runs by raising a golden trident, and while Shohei Ohtani was still playing for the Angels, the team would celebrate bombs by donning a samurai helmet.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
6 Apr. 2025
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During those visits, Zelensky wore a simple sweatshirt—also embroidered with the trident.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Early Sunday morning, firefighter Graham Hoffman, 29, was in the back of an ambulance transporting a patient to the hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, when he was stabbed in the chest, piercing his heart, according to a press release published on the city's website.—
Julia Gomez,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2025
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While traveling to Saint Luke’s Hospital aboard an ambulance, the suspect allegedly stabbed Hoffman with a knife, piercing his heart, around 1:25 a.m.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The Trump administration – with Musk and his aides as the tip of the spear – have roiled the federal government with mass layoffs and demands for access to sensitive information at agencies including the Social Security Administration and the National Labor Relations Board.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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Later, the antler was likely repurposed as part of a harpoon, a pointed spear used to catch fish.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The trip to Paris ended in defeat and while the return leg at Villa Park conjured up both a win and one of the best games of the season, Villa’s European dreams were punctured by Luis Enrique’s men.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2025
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The plotline’s matter-of-fact profanity at once punctured any sense of simplistic morality and underlined that world events always coexist with everyday indignities.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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During different events, the guards will add white gloves, a black helmet and/or the halberd.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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The retainer then struck her down with a halberd, set the mansion ablaze, and committed seppuku.—
Nicholas Liu,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2024
Verb
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Payne, who’s known and been good friends with Bridges since their Phoenix Suns days, is never afraid to jab a teammate when necessary.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2025
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Others recalled him having stand-up rows, shouting, swearing, and jabbing his finger in the direction of co-workers.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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No calibration, no camera… just plug, stick, and go.—
Paul Lamkin,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
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Cut up old microfiber cloths and stick them under heavy plant pots.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
28 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harpoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harpoon. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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