Thesaurus results for LANCE

lance 1 of 2

noun

ˈlan(t)s

Definition of lance

as in spear

a weapon with a long straight handle and sharp head or blade the lance struck squarely on the knight's shield, knocking him from his horse

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

lance

2 of 2

verb

as in to stab

to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object doctors used to lance infected sores, so that they could drain clean

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 lance

Noun

Fer-de-lance Fer-de-lance is a common name applied to highly dangerous pit vipers in the Bothrops genus, particularly in Central and South America. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026 Bottom cleaners use lances to scrape biofoul off hulls. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 23 June 2026

Verb

His maiden first-class — let alone Test — century was confirmed with a tension-lancing scythe over midwicket in the final session, writes Dominic Fifield. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026 Asking a question that lanced through his core. — Stephen Humphries, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lance

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lance

Noun

Spears and a club The team found a pointed stick and two spears lying close to the antlered skulls of red deer.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 9 Oct. 2026
From 1965 to 1969, the Redskins donned burgundy helmets that featured a spear and feather on each side.

— Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of spear

Verb

The North Texas woman arrested Tuesday after allegedly stabbing and injuring her husband and two young children at their Northlake home had been struggling with postpartum depression, according to court documents.

— Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026
Tate and four others were stabbed and shot during the attacks.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of stab

Verb

Grill the potatoes, cut sides down first, then flip with tongs, until golden brown, crispy on the edges, and easily punctured by a thermometer probe.

— Candy Hom, AJC.com, 10 Oct. 2026
At stake are large payments the state receives as part of the compact, which the Tribe could suspend if its monopoly on sports betting is punctured.

— Gray Rohrer, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of puncture

Verb

The sound of jackhammering in the Horsches’ backyard pierced the otherwise quiet street Wednesday afternoon.

— Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of pierce

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
At the tail end of their time on stage, the former castmates took the opportunity to jab at the Buffy revival’s cancellation earlier this year.

— Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of jab

Verb

The market has picked 12 fiction and documentary features, all in late-stage development, for its Tasveer Market Selects strand.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Also for those with kitchens, there is a Whole Foods and Safeway close by to pick-up groceries.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of pick

Verb

So imagine my surprise when the one innovation to stick — literally — turns out to be one marketed for men.

— Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
In a cozy suburb of Minneapolis, a guy in a blue jumpsuit is once again stuck aboard a space station with his robot pals, watching the worst movies ever made.

— Joe Otterson, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of stick

Browse Nearby Words

lanais

lance

lanced

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of lance

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on lance

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

outlandish

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes