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
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of harpoon
David Matthews, New York Daily News, 4 Aug. 2025
While David padded toward the bow where two harpoons lay ready, Kim throttled down and the Theresa slowly, almost silently, moved in behind the cruising fin.
—Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
When activated, the harpoon is ejected, penetrates under the skin, and venom is released.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 11 July 2025
Once the lander’s three legs absorb the landing shock, Philae will anchor itself in the comet’s surface by firing two harpoons while using a thruster to counteract the force of the harpoons.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 Nov. 2014
See All Example Sentences for harpoon
Noun
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
While David padded toward the bow where two harpoons lay ready, Kim throttled down and the Theresa slowly, almost silently, moved in behind the cruising fin.
—Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
When activated, the harpoon is ejected, penetrates under the skin, and venom is released.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 11 July 2025
Once the lander’s three legs absorb the landing shock, Philae will anchor itself in the comet’s surface by firing two harpoons while using a thruster to counteract the force of the harpoons.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 Nov. 2014
See All Example Sentences for harpoon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harpoon
Verb
-
Jared Luecke, 33, is facing murder and tampering with evidence charges and is accused of repeatedly stabbing John Luecke with a knife and hitting him with a crowbar, according to court records.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Hennen spent 30 months in prison for intent to distribute cocaine and was separately arrested for assault after stabbing someone.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Fates still hang firmly in the balance in Africa, Asia and the North America, Central America, Caribbean trident, with several nations dreaming of a first appearance at the sport’s biggest tournament.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Hoosiers can hunt frogs with bow and arrows, clubs, some firearms, or simply, their hands, but Plumier teaches those gathered at Goose Pond how to use gigs — long, multi-pronged spears that look a little bit like tridents.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For Edelberto’s brother, Amilcar Hernandez, the death has been piercing and painful.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
In September, Manow posted a photo of her bloodied face and said Clateman knocked out her dermal piercing during a fight.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
That's especially true in the Southeast, where there’s no shortage of uniquely thrilling opening acts from Chief Osceola and his flaming spear at Florida State to the eagle’s pre-game lap around Jordan Hare Stadium at Auburn.—
Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin,
Southern Living,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Paired with zucchini spears and pine nuts, your tongue tussles with pillowy soft textures and crunch.—
Lyndsay C. Green,
Freep.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Researchers in Mexico have developed a revolutionary zinc-air battery (ZAB) that keeps running even after being punctured, exposed to flames, or even completely submerged in water.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Their necks were broken and they were dragged away to the bush to be impaled, their bowels punctured.—
Adam L. Rovner,
The Conversation,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The retainer then struck her down with a halberd, set the mansion ablaze, and committed seppuku.—
Nicholas Liu,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2024
-
Also, his halberd starts fritzing on the floor before fading out of existence, a reminder that this is all virtual reality—or rather, VR within VR, the metatextual framing of Ubisoft’s latest Assassin’s Creed game.—
WIRED,
WIRED,
16 Nov. 2023
Verb
-
The inmates jabbed him repeatedly.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
4 Nov. 2025
-
For nations in the developing world, the vote has been an opportunity to jab at the United States on an issue that has traditionally carried little diplomatic weight.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Three or four decades ago, the newspaperman was appealingly raffish—at once a bum who drank too much and a knight-errant who charged unafraid at social injustice, succored the weak, and crossed lances with the powerful and arrogant.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The thermal lance Caan uses to penetrate the safe was Santucci’s own burning bar.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harpoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harpoon. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share