impaling

verb

present participle of impale
as in stabbing
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

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 impaling Hickory Hills and Bridgeview area residents stood outside their apartment building Friday looking at the roof blown off and a piece of wood impaling a garage. — Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026 Back in the family’s house, the walking corpse shoves a boy onto the dishwasher, impaling him full of cutlery. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026 Stevenson, who was on probation and is not legally allowed to own a firearm, is accused of killing his victim after impaling him with an arrow, according to the RPD. — Chris Spargo, People.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impaling
  1. stabbing
  2. puncturing
  3. piercing
  4. jabbing
  5. picking
  6. sticking
Verb
  • The 74-year-old had been convicted of stabbing his wife to death in 1992.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 16 July 2026
  • The department’s homicide detectives and crime scene investigators took over the stabbing investigation, collecting evidence and questioning witnesses.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of stabbing
Verb
  • On June 3, Walden went to the hospital, where a CT scan revealed the metal bristle had become lodged in his bowel and had begun puncturing his intestine.
    — Nick Lunemann, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • Where there’s normally carpet or hardwood floors, there are rocks, puncturing bare feet with each step.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 25 June 2026
Definition of puncturing
Verb
  • Collins can’t make the same pivot without piercing the brand that carried him this far.
    — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
  • The documentary feature Noga, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival last month and is currently making the film-festival rounds, is as piercing as that shriek.
    — Marisa Fox, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026
Definition of piercing
Verb
  • The show ushered in a new era of winking, elbow-jabbing meta-musicals.
    — Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 26 June 2026
  • The audience groaned, while Vergara and Mel B screamed for Strange to stop jabbing at his partner through the box.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 17 June 2026
Definition of jabbing
Verb
  • There is a competitive theory behind picking a quiet Tennessee city over a host metropolis.
    — Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
  • Usually, that means picking a more premium seating section or opting for an aisle or window seat, depending on preference.
    — Lindsey Campbell, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026
Definition of picking
Verb
  • Everyone looks glowing and glamorous, despite sticking generally to a dutiful antiquities theme.
    — Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • When an outside threat increases, various mammal species will respond by sticking close together.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 July 2026
Definition of sticking

Browse Nearby Words

impales
impaling
impalpable
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Cite this Entry

“Impaling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impaling. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on impaling

Nglish: Translation of impaling for Spanish Speakers

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