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
-
In a video of the attack that was widely circulated on social media, one soldier is seen striking him with the barrel of his rifle, before the settler comes in to land several more punches.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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The poem is littered with gut punches that would destroy me as a parent; Lee sees the poem’s beauty and appears to feel appropriate shame.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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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
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Olivia Bennett had 30 digs and Beach added seven in the two wins.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Junior libero Karsyn Evans, a Texas Tech commit, headlines a strong defense, with a team-high 507 regular-season digs, while chipping in with 126 assists and serving a team-best 61 aces.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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That was true when there were committee picks figuring into the mix, and true since those were done away with.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Shop picks from Kelly Clarkson, Martha Stewart, Joanna Gaines’ home lines, and more while prices start just $15.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Her infectious laugh regularly pierces the newsroom noise.—
Brad Schmitt,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 Oct. 2025
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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
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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 17 Nov. 2025.
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