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
Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 3 Nov. 2025
Lyra Valkyria, Nikki Bella, Bayley, and Dupri were all targets of her verbal jabs.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
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
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
Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Haggard jabs Baird over mailers The race is already tense.
—Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
For the most part, the Foodie Boyz’ jokes and jabs are lighthearted.
—Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 3 Nov. 2025
Lyra Valkyria, Nikki Bella, Bayley, and Dupri were all targets of her verbal jabs.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
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
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
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
-
Punch Makes a Comeback Exotic and nostalgic punches are taking center stage in home entertaining, offering both visual appeal and easy service.—
Colleen Sullivan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The humanoid performs spins, punches, one-legged stances, rapid kicks, and low sweeps, then transitions into aerobatic sequences.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The suspect pounces on Ennin while the victim is down and stabs him multiple times before running off.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
After Fiona confesses to killing Willem, a raging Constance stabs Dahlia.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
This year, the comedian is poised to run it back, almost certainly with a few more Chalamet digs.—
Malia Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Set beyond gates on nearly half an acre in the Amestoy Estates neighborhood, the modern farmhouse-style digs have been repainted a rich chocolate hue.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But Anderson punctures his weed haze with the bright light of a past that in actuality never dimmed, when Lockjaw begins to hunt Pat and Willa.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
24 Nov. 2025
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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
-
The robot picks unsorted bearing rings and places them onto a buffer table.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
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Our top picks start at $16, with some even on sale, too.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Nothing that pierces the skin should ever be used as leverage over a child's opportunity to education and to learn.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Nicole Kidman's stare pierces the room.—
Jennifer Brett,
Nashville Tennessean,
16 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Unlike the film's 1931 predecessor, del Toro promised that his Frankenstein sticks more closely to the original text.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
-
That always sticks in my head now, something like that coming from a legend like that.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jabs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jabs. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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