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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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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In a lawsuit, Nicholas Parszik and his parents alleged that Rivers stabbed Nicholas, then 8, while the two boys were playing video games in the garage of Nicholas’ San Pedro home on July 30, 2016.—
Sandra McDonald,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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After being questioned by Charlotte County detectives, Giblin allegedly confessed to stabbing Bradley after an argument.—
Alyssa Dzikowski,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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
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As the fates would have it, Diemer has had a lifelong obsession with Poseidon, as evidenced by his prominent trident necklace, the iconic emblem and weapon of the sea god.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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And because Mary Lavin is working with the short story rather than the novel, what happens in her fiction must have the noise of delicacy and then a fierce or piercing after-effect.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
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The ping of pickleball play produces a uniquely piercing and repetitive sound that has led to contentious lawsuits and controversies across the entire country, including just north in Fox Point, as the sport has rapidly grown in popularity over the last few years.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For the ideal filling, use medium-sized asparagus spears.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
1 Mar. 2026
-
For most of the season, the spears pointed outward.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Conviction in the Gulf as a future global hub for AI infrastructure is facing its first stress test with Iranian strikes puncturing the region’s image as a haven for computing power.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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Iran’s attacks on civilian infrastructure and soft targets – airports in Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, and hotels in Bahrain and Dubai – serve to puncture this image of safe and secure Gulf capitals.—
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen,
The Conversation,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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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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In another moment, long-time rivals Jett and Mane exchange jabs against one another over a livestream as thousands of roarball fans tune in and cheer them on in the comments.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
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Where Volkanovski is clearly better is at distance, using his technique to kick at Lopes and jab him.—
Brett Appley,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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Warhorses charge, lances down, crashing through the tilts as lances break on shields and men topple from their steeds.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harpoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harpoon. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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