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 During the gameplay, Logan certainly gets his fair share of bloody kicks, deadly swipes, and claw impaling punches. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026 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
  • On April 21, 2023, Garr was walking up Bridge Street in Drexel Hill when police said Weh brutally attacked him, stabbing and slashing the 15-year-old 11 times.
    — Joe Holden, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The 40-foot homemade boat was overloaded with 64 people, who panicked and jumped overboard after De La Rosa began stabbing people, a Homeland Security Investigations criminal complaint states.
    — David Goodhue October 12, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of stabbing
Verb
  • The shrapnel tore through the metal surrounding the engine, shattering the window at row 11, leaving a dent in the plane near row 8 and puncturing the body below the wing, as well as gouging and denting the tail, the NTSB said.
    — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • According to the company website, the glove is designed to disrupt sensory nerves without puncturing or burning the skin.
    — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of puncturing
Verb
  • Another piece sliced through his salivary gland before bouncing off his jaw and piercing the back of his neck, severing an artery and embedding in a vertebra.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The most impressive is the national park’s namesake, El Teide, a cloud-piercing volcano at around 12,200 feet high—Spain’s tallest peak.
    — Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of piercing
Verb
  • Then, inside the death house, executioners struggled to find a vein, jabbing Pike with at least seven needles, according to her lawyers, one of whom watched in dismay.
    — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026
  • When handcuffed by investigators, Thakor denied jabbing his wife with a knife.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of jabbing
Verb
  • Changing spending habits Other Democratic megadonors are simply cutting out the middleman, picking individual races and candidates to support.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Sheeran, on the other end, faced intense backlash for not standing up for the rapper and avoiding picking a side.
    — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of picking
Verb
  • The bar makes a perfectly balanced drink, and brunch holds its own with plenty of light and rib-sticking options alike (the steak and eggs were my favorite) and strong locally roasted coffee (both pour-over and espresso options).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Drafts, foggy glass, sticking sashes and rising energy bills can all signal that your windows need attention.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of sticking

Browse Nearby Words

impales
impaling
impalpable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Impaling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impaling. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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