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
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Recent Examples of jabs
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Industry insiders suggest the feud stems from clashing business interests and contract disputes, not personal drama, as the two have been trading subtle online jabs for months.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
As for Weekend Update, both Jost and Michael Che got good jabs in.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2026
Social jabs explained Is NYC happy with Mamdani?
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
And through all this, Saariaho’s elaborately beautiful orchestration scintillates, jabs, caresses, and swerves, giving all that vivid misery a sheen of lyric glamour.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
At any rate, add Jordan Seaton and London Merritt to the list for former CU Buffs offering subtle jabs at Deion Sanders’ old coaching staff over the last few days.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
In the latter half of the 20th century, Mexico provided universal free jabs and had highly visible mass campaigns.
—Katie Silver, NPR, 28 Mar. 2026
The lineup of comedians who will take jabs at Hart has yet to be announced.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
In another moment, long-time rivals Jett and Mane exchange jabs against one another over a livestream as thousands of roarball fans tune in and cheer them on in the comments.
—Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
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
His finger jabs on the second-to-last page, at the postscript.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2025
Noun
Those two standout episodes are also largely separated from the country club settling, which too often opens the door for slightly superficial jabs at the club’s vapid members.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Industry insiders suggest the feud stems from clashing business interests and contract disputes, not personal drama, as the two have been trading subtle online jabs for months.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2026
As for Weekend Update, both Jost and Michael Che got good jabs in.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2026
Social jabs explained Is NYC happy with Mamdani?
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2026
And through all this, Saariaho’s elaborately beautiful orchestration scintillates, jabs, caresses, and swerves, giving all that vivid misery a sheen of lyric glamour.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026
At any rate, add Jordan Seaton and London Merritt to the list for former CU Buffs offering subtle jabs at Deion Sanders’ old coaching staff over the last few days.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 29 Mar. 2026
In the latter half of the 20th century, Mexico provided universal free jabs and had highly visible mass campaigns.
—Katie Silver, NPR, 28 Mar. 2026
The lineup of comedians who will take jabs at Hart has yet to be announced.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
Donald Trump‘s effort today to praise his new Homeland Security Secretary and defend him from Jimmy Kimmel‘s jabs kind of backfired.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
In another moment, long-time rivals Jett and Mane exchange jabs against one another over a livestream as thousands of roarball fans tune in and cheer them on in the comments.
—Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
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
His finger jabs on the second-to-last page, at the postscript.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jabs
Noun
-
The 42-year-old Swanson overmatched Landwehr with a bevy of punches to the head before referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the fight with 54 seconds left in the opening round.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
This Midwestern city, which hosted the country’s first-ever rock concert in 1952, punches above its weight in everything from cuisine to the arts to parks, and is home to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, often cited as one of Ohio’s top tourist attractions.—
Paul J. Heney,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The shower curtain opens, revealing an old woman, who stabs and decapitates Mary.—
Therie Hendrey-Seabrook,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
18 Mar. 2026
-
But this person who was a friend, who owes her career to me, just stabs me in the back.—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Jonathan Nogueira, a junior, had 18 digs and three ace serves in the win.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Owners began to demand fancier digs, sometimes threatening to move.—
Steve Doerschuk,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Joel, a 19‑year veteran, begins pursuing after another officer deploys a spike strip and punctures the Challenger's tires.—
Kelsy Mittauer,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The narrower design, combined with the several sharp teeth, effectively punctures through tough pepper skin and hard fruits to cut out the core and remove seeds in a matter of seconds.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Privacy may struggle within a buzzing neighborhood as the Sun in your contemplative 12th house pokes indulgent Jupiter in your 3rd House of Messages.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Pepsi has for decades taken pokes at rival Coke in an endless array of commercials, but this time, the youth-skewing cola company really means business.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There are usually one or two prospects who tower over the rest of the draft, and the whole basketball universe knows the top picks well before draft night.—
Matthew Coller,
Twin Cities,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Nobody looking for low taxes picks Connecticut as their home.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Its 1959 Googie-style sign pierces the sky, a beacon of hope for weary road-trippers cruising this achingly lonely stretch of highway.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Lower the heat to medium-high and cook, gently stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent and a paring knife easily pierces a potato, about 15 minutes.—
C.W. Cameron,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Lohan's day of filming included a version that sticks closely to the original blueprint.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Once the media sticks its oar in, the real reason for the robbery emerges by degrees.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jabs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jabs. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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