as in stabs
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
jabbed a pickle and tossed it on the plate
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 jabs
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Drake and Kendrick Lamar went at it last year in a series of vicious, scathing tracks that included taunts, jabs, and some serious allegations being thrown around.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
So, when Joe Mazzulla started throwing verbal jabs about his defense, Simons welcomed them.
—Jay King, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Mathis quickly dropped the politeness and threw some jabs before expressing concern over Brown.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Then Again by engaging Colbert in a comedy riff-off that saw the pair taking hilarious jabs at each other on a variety of topics.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Oct. 2025
Khloé and Kris swapped places, while Kim and Kourtney paired up to trade jabs.
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Strong tackling and disruptive jabs were at the heart of it, but tension rose throughout as the physicality persisted.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
Boomer Esiason's former radio co-host Craig Carton used to routinely take jabs at Waldman, and this week the former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback appeared to renew the rivalry.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Haggard jabs Baird over mailers The race is already tense.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
The jabs and insults of earlier Presidents, though, however rough, stayed within the bounds of democratic discourse, the basic rule being that the other side also gets to make its case.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Drake and Kendrick Lamar went at it last year in a series of vicious, scathing tracks that included taunts, jabs, and some serious allegations being thrown around.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
So, when Joe Mazzulla started throwing verbal jabs about his defense, Simons welcomed them.
—Jay King, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Mathis quickly dropped the politeness and threw some jabs before expressing concern over Brown.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 16 Oct. 2025
Then Again by engaging Colbert in a comedy riff-off that saw the pair taking hilarious jabs at each other on a variety of topics.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Oct. 2025
Khloé and Kris swapped places, while Kim and Kourtney paired up to trade jabs.
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
Strong tackling and disruptive jabs were at the heart of it, but tension rose throughout as the physicality persisted.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
Boomer Esiason's former radio co-host Craig Carton used to routinely take jabs at Waldman, and this week the former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback appeared to renew the rivalry.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
Srinivas, who often jabs the search engine giant, made an interesting point.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Haggard jabs Baird over mailers The race is already tense.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jabs
Noun
-
Despite its 2-5 record, Cleveland can throw some punches through one of the fiercest defensive lines in football.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Leo pulls no punches as Lizzo matches her intensity in a whisper.—
Meagan Jordan,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Alex breaks free and, in a panic, repeatedly stabs Evelyn with the syringe.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Spike takes one of Kelson's tranquilizer darts filled with morphine and stabs Samson in the arm with it.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Nemo Beach had 18 kills and 15 digs, Kylie Munday had 55 assists and Kali Engeman had 15 kills and six blocks as the Toreros’ women’s volleyball team, which is ranked 38th in the nation by NCAA analytics, defeated visiting Washington State for a ninth straight win.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The senior had 39 kills and added 17 digs as Monte Vista beat San Ramon Valley in a tough five-set match.—
Christian Babcock,
Mercury News,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Recounting his visit with Shelton’s body after she’d been taken off of life support in From Bleak to Dark, Maron punctures the somber scene with a joke about taking a selfie.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
There weren’t any needles, pokes, or prods involved, just a simple applicator patch that stuck to the side of my stomach to help the machine navigate where to output the energy.—
Essence,
Essence,
24 Sep. 2025
-
The rooftop pool and open-late bars draw a youngish crowd—lots of millennials with stick-and-pokes—of couples and friends, and absolutely zero kids (though the property is dog- and cat- friendly).—
Emily Wilson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
So until the party picks its next presidential nominee—still at least 18 months away—there is no real leader of the Democratic Party.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
28 Oct. 2025
-
For the first time in its history, this year’s batch of Gotham nominees includes 10 Best Feature picks.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Her infectious laugh regularly pierces the newsroom noise.—
Brad Schmitt,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 Oct. 2025
-
But the show's greatest asset is its stars, whose endearing real-life friendship pierces through the play’s inherent despair.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
With off-putting brusqueness, the acupuncturist sticks needles into my head and left leg, leaves the room—and appears to forget all about me.—
Lucinda Rosenfeld,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Robbie and Jayson have a furious battle, but Jayson sticks the fatal knife stab before fleeing.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jabs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jabs. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share