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
Kelly Devries, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2012
Multiply the rain’s lances, multiply their ruin, the grace born from subtraction as the hold’s iron door
rolled over their eyes like pots left out in the rain,
and the bolt rammed home its echo, the way that thunder-
claps perpetuate their reverberation.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Friday, when Lebanese officials say two Israeli missiles lanced through the Zahra family‘s three-story building.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lance
Noun
Religious icons often depict Saints George and Michael defeating dragons, by lance and feet, respectively.
—Kelly Devries, Foreign Affairs, 29 Mar. 2012
Multiply the rain’s lances, multiply their ruin, the grace born from subtraction as the hold’s iron door
rolled over their eyes like pots left out in the rain,
and the bolt rammed home its echo, the way that thunder-
claps perpetuate their reverberation.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
But an Israeli missile lanced through his house, killing the 23 people inside, including more than a dozen women and two children.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Friday, when Lebanese officials say two Israeli missiles lanced through the Zahra family‘s three-story building.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lance
Noun
-
This Windy City homage features mustard, relish, tomatoes, sport peppers, onions, celery salt, and a pickle spear on a poppy seed bun.—
Nasha Smith,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
Chicago Dog: mustard, relish, dill pickle spear, tomato slices, sport peppers, and celery salt.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
At some point, one of Valle's friends allegedly gave him a knife, which was used during the brawl to stab McGrath.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
11 July 2025
-
Porter was seen using his right hand to stab Abdirahman in the neck, according to the court documents.—
Mike Stunson
July 10,
Kansas City Star,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
With her final attempt in the women’s javelin finals Thursday, Barrios Bornacelli fired off a throw of 203 feet, 5 inches, winning the event — and the national championship.—
Jacob Louraine,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2025
-
The men’s 800m, women’s javelin, women’s 100m hurdles, men’s 5000m and women’s 1500m are the other events to cap off the Paris athletics competition.—
Lukas Weese,
The Athletic,
9 Aug. 2024
Verb
-
Steering column was pushed into his chest, broke his ribs, rib punctured his heart.—
Darlin Tillery,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 July 2025
-
Another teen girl was stabbed, her lung punctured, during the melee.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
With piercing honesty and raw emotion, Jean Smart delivers a powerful monologue in Call Me Izzy, a new play written by Jamie Wax and directed by Sarna Lapine.—
H. Alan Scott,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
-
The hot nights pierced with cold decisions on young men’s futures.—
Devon Henderson,
Oc Register,
6 July 2025
Verb
-
Former Major League Baseball (MLB) starter Trevor Bauer took Pete Rose’s reinstatement as another avenue to jab the league.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2025
-
Nearly 150 people were jabbed with syringes during a street music festival in France, the country’s interior ministry said, adding that authorities had arrested at least 12 suspects.—
Astha Rajvanshi,
NBC news,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
This year, the program is running twice as long and with four times the number of attractions to pick from.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
8 July 2025
-
Readers clearly have no problem picking favorites, with the top properties located mostly in major travel destinations like Mumbai, New Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, and Agra.—
Hannah Walhout,
Travel + Leisure,
8 July 2025
Verb
-
Thompson will need to prove the most in this area to stick, as well.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
-
The new websites offer a variety of information that appears to stick closely to generally accepted definitions and science around geoengineering and the government’s ongoing research on contrails.—
Pilar Melendez,
NBC news,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lance. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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