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
Erin Clack, People.com, 18 Aug. 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
Lovely used two harpoons and cleaned the shark in the water.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harpoon
Noun
The sport involves using a sharp-pointed tool such as a harpoon, spear or gig to impale a fish's body.
—Erin Clack, People.com, 18 Aug. 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
Lovely used two harpoons and cleaned the shark in the water.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harpoon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harpoon
Verb
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The ambassador, who was not identified or criminally charged, stabbed Berry during a struggle that began after the ambassador asked Berry and a teenage girl to stop vaping on a bus.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Near a lookout offering sweeping views, Gerhardt Konig, 47 — upset about his wife's relationship with a coworker — tried to push her off the steep trail, bashed her head with a rock and attempted to stab her with a syringe, prosecutors said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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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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The bullet pierced the 49-year-old guard’s spine, according to prosecutors, who said the victim endured seven hours of surgery and may be paralyzed.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
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Here is an example of a piercing forward run and crisp finish down that side from that fateful afternoon against Granada, not shying away from putting his weaker foot through the ball with the angle closing down.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Some of the Bindjareb attempted to escape, while others grabbed their spears, and at least five Bindjareb individuals were killed in the resulting skirmish.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
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Trim the ends of the spears, cutting off no more than an inch.—
Victoria Spencer,
Martha Stewart,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Iranian strikes on the city now appear to be puncturing the cycle, putting pressure on residential and commercial property prices — and on the people whose jobs depend on them.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
7 Apr. 2026
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At this time, the kernels are tender, fully developed, and produce a milky, sweet liquid when punctured.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Those Swiss guards would take that halberd and just take you down.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
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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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For a piece in this week’s issue, Dhruv Khullar, a practicing physician and a contributing writer, investigated this growing industry, speaking to the doctors who are tinkering with compounds and the users gamely jabbing themselves in a quest for self-optimization.—
Hannah Jocelyn,
New Yorker,
8 Apr. 2026
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The boxers, aged 40 and 42 respectively, threw hopeful knockout punches and barely jabbed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Powered from within, grass seedlings lance out roots and stems, beating any competition.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
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Their sizes range from 4 inches to 4 feet tall, and their heart- and lance-shaped leaves can be smooth, wavy, or variegated.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harpoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harpoon. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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