as in to stab
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
impale a marshmallow or two on that stick and let's start toasting
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impale
Analyzing the legendary unicorn tapestries hanging at the Met Cloisters in New York (augmented here by a gory new panel that depicts the suddenly fearsome animals disemboweling and impaling their aggressors), Ridley concludes that unicorns aren’t nearly as benevolent as most people think.
—
Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Mar. 2025
After trying to convince the disgruntled clerk to take it off his hands, the monkey bangs its drum, causing a harpoon gun on display to impale the clerk and rip out his entrails.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 4 Mar. 2025
People get impaled, electrocuted, blown up real good.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2025
Moving wall of spikes completes migration across room, but victim is not impaled.
—Jack Handey, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impale
Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Mar. 2025
After trying to convince the disgruntled clerk to take it off his hands, the monkey bangs its drum, causing a harpoon gun on display to impale the clerk and rip out his entrails.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 4 Mar. 2025
People get impaled, electrocuted, blown up real good.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2025
Moving wall of spikes completes migration across room, but victim is not impaled.
—Jack Handey, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impale
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impale
Verb
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The passenger who shot him was stabbed in the back and lungs and remains in critical condition, according to CBS News.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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Police in Frisco on Thursday night responded to a gunshot call at a house where relatives of a 17-year-old boy who was stabbed to death at a track meet live.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Apr. 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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Hoffman was stabbed in the chest, piercing his heart, Kansas City Fire Chief Ross Grundyson said in a statement.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
28 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
Verb
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The toppings really make the dish here—pick your favorites!—
Elizabeth Nelson,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2025
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Steelers’ draft picks Picks will be updated throughout the 2025 NFL Draft, April 24–26.—
Mike DeFabo,
New York Times,
27 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
Verb
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In a statement, Mr. Warner praised General Haugh’s leadership and said his removal would not make the country safer, jabbing at the White House for sharing sensitive material on a consumer messaging application and ousting members of the National Security Council staff at the urging of Ms. Loomer.—
Julian E. Barnes,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
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The law has long recognized that attorneys should feel free to punch and jab their opponent with threats and intimidation to try to resolve a dispute before filing a lawsuit, because court dockets are jammed with cases and tough talk can help clear the deck.—
Bill Hochberg,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impale.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impale. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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