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
Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
The nest hoards of bearded vultures in southern Spain, where the species is extinct, were found to harbor such human artifacts as a crossbow bolt, a slingshot, a wooden lance, and a shoe with an approximate age of 675 years.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
If unresolved in two more weeks, lancing the lesion, doing a punch biopsy, or removing it might end up needing to be done.
—Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lance
Noun
The shooting spurts of goo, pus, and assorted bodily fluids are not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach, but for those who enjoy watching an expert pop pimples, lance boils, and generally improve the quality of her patients' lives, Dr. Pimple Popper is sure to deliver.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Dec. 2025
The nest hoards of bearded vultures in southern Spain, where the species is extinct, were found to harbor such human artifacts as a crossbow bolt, a slingshot, a wooden lance, and a shoe with an approximate age of 675 years.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
Verb
Sirens echoed in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with the nighttime skies over the latter lighted with bursts of yellow as missiles from Israel’s Arrow defense system lanced up to intercept Iranian ballistic missiles.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
If unresolved in two more weeks, lancing the lesion, doing a punch biopsy, or removing it might end up needing to be done.
—Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lance
Noun
-
For most of the season, the spears pointed outward.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Other sufferers, however, who submitted entries to the 1983 Migraine Art Competition, depicted their pain in drawings and paintings of nails, needles, axes, ice picks, arrows, bolts, jaws, chisels, shivs, guns, red-hot spears, sledgehammers, devils, and long pins.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
According to court records, Trotter stabbed and strangled Langford on June 16, 1986, at her store in Palmetto near the southern edge of Tampa Bay.—
David Fischer,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Maricela Rocha Parga was 22 years old when she was found stabbed to death outside Westlake High School on July 18, 1980.—
Rebecca Cohen,
NBC news,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Humans have been throwing javelins for a few hundred thousand years, yet performance has largely plateaued.—
R. Alexander Bentley,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The facility has 194 parking spaces and can seat more than 2,500 (1,908 seats in the grandstand, 508 in the berm overlooking the long throws area for javelin, hammer and discus and 200 seats by shot put).—
Sarah Spencer,
AJC.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
A couple of people pulled out knives and slipped over to puncture leather hoses pumping water to put out the fire.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
They were pinched, prodded, cut, shocked, pierced with needles, struck with canes, and burned with acid.—
Dan Piepenbring,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Liu’s story about piercing herself with a needle and a mirror may sound casual, but self-piercing in the mouth carries additional infection risk given the bacteria the ADA describes.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Where Volkanovski is clearly better is at distance, using his technique to kick at Lopes and jab him.—
Brett Appley,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But someone had the idea that a congressional committee ought to pick some stuff to be locked up in the Centennial Safe before it was closed again, to be reopened at the Tricentennial, in 2076.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
-
At the show, the robot demonstrated fluid, human-like agility, picking itself up, navigating the stage smoothly, and moving its torso and head with natural precision.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But what if, instead of a cozy cabin, you were stuck in a tent.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Londontown Sugarcane For those still sticking true to neutrals, step outside the Ballet Slippers box with a metallic taupe nude that offers a bit of warmth just as the spring and summer glow is getting started.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lance. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
