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
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Recent Examples of lance
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025
When guarding a monster's attack with a lance using Power Guard under certain conditions, the weapon flashes in red but the effect is not activated
When using a mantle, a Weapon Equipment Skill may mistakenly be activated.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for lance
Noun
But every individual had suffered some sort of devastating injury—like wounds made by swords, lances, daggers and iron bolts.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025
When guarding a monster's attack with a lance using Power Guard under certain conditions, the weapon flashes in red but the effect is not activated
When using a mantle, a Weapon Equipment Skill may mistakenly be activated.
—Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
Robinson, 22, is accused of firing a single bullet that lanced Kirk’s neck during a public appearance on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, about 40 miles south of Salt Lake City.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for lance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lance
Noun
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Moving backward and forward through time, the hut seems like the spear, which seems like the stone, the diorama, and the photograph, like my laptop and your magazine.—
Harmon Siegel,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
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And Paleo Dad grumbles but goes and picks up his spear.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The admission came the day after two Jewish worshipers were killed and three others seriously injured in a car ramming and stabbing attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in the Manchester suburb of Crumpsall on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.—
Peter Wilkinson,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
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One of the victims had been stabbed several times in the head and was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Then in the fourth quarter, this javelin throw clinched the game for the Bearcats — Sorsby hits the slot post in stride for the 82-yard touchdown.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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The senior placed first at the Div. 1 championship in both javelin and discus.—
Brian Roach,
Boston Herald,
6 July 2025
Verb
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And, in the process, the trio of ’70s babies punctured the myth that rap is a young man’s sport.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
2 Oct. 2025
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Tyrone Taylor’s three RBIs had punctured Spencer Schwellenbach, and Peterson took a 4-1 lead into the eighth having retired 11 of the last 12.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In April, Kismet by Milka opened a London flagship at 110 New Bond Street, which spans 1,500 square feet across two floors with two piercing studios.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
2 Oct. 2025
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Touches five and six are merely the cajoling preamble to the pièce de résistance, aka touch seven, a piercing through ball which splits defender Goncalo Inacio and backtracking forward Geny Catamo like a warm bread knife through a ciabatta roll straight out of Mama’s oven.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Srinivas, who often jabs the search engine giant, made an interesting point.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Winkler took Waddell behind the door he was meant to burst out from and started to jab him.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Check out expert picks from our sister sites CNET, ZDNET, Mashable, and Lifehacker.—
Jade Chung-Lee,
PC Magazine,
8 Oct. 2025
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Complete our roundup of best basics with something a bit more fashion-forward, too, like a floral blouse from Ulla Johnson or a light wash denim shirt from Nanushka—the fashion girl picks.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Investors and economists are stuck looking to other sources of data for information about the economy.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
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In the meantime, borrowers stuck in the backlog may not be making progress toward loan forgiveness, either under the terms of an IDR plan or through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lance. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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