lance 1 of 2

noun

ˈlan(t)s How to pronounce lance (audio)
Definition of lancenext
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

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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
  1. spear
  2. stab
  3. javelin
  4. puncture
  5. pierce
  6. jab
  7. pick
  8. stick
Noun
  • The authors said that Shanidar A’s wound may be the earliest example of an ancient human relative killed with a wooden spear.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Remnants of a wooden spear weren’t found near the Neanderthal’s remains, which is understandable since the material often decomposes so quickly.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of spear
Verb
  • Last month, a Sikh truck driver was stabbed 17 times at a Wyoming rest stop.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
  • An East Bay man accused of fatally stabbing his wife earlier this month was out on bail in a domestic violence case, prosecutors said.
    — Tim Fang, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of stab
Noun
  • Yadav won gold and set a record in the men’s F55 javelin at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta.
    — Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2026
  • His deep ball and his javelin toss can easily clear 50 yards.
    — Ren Clayton, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of javelin
Verb
  • Like Trouble, Zukenee can lull you into a groove, then puncture that false sense of security with an abrupt shift in tone.
    — Narsimha Gour Chintaluri, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The sullen tribute to Payne settled the room into a cool near-silence, punctured by quiet gasps and muffled crying.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of puncture
Verb
  • Accumulation of food debris observed on the piercing part of can opener.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Bauer, who was working in uniform, was shot twice — with one of the bullets piercing his heart — during a robbery at Kislak National Bank, 13490 NW Seventh Ave.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of pierce
Verb
  • The film’s pick-me jabs at humor are frankly, flatly unfunny and grating, twisting the film at times into a perverse, almost self-aware treatise on tweeness.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Rainbow continued to jab the secretary of health as his primary opposition throughout the parody of the Frank Loesser song.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of jab
Verb
  • The proof of concept combines robotic manipulation, AI and virtual simulation to explore how robots can pick components from containers and arrange them in the correct order for vehicle assembly.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The country estate sits on a 40-acre lot in the alpine village of Tolochenaz, near Lausanne, guaranteeing privacy—and plenty of space to host garden parties or pick cherries from the orchard, as Audrey did decades ago.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of pick
Verb
  • The untraditional layout stuck first gear off to the side, making the 2-3 shift most likely to be often reached for under hard use easier to crack off.
    — Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Watch Duty exploded in popularity by providing up-to-the-minute firefighting updates, fire perimeters, and on-the-scene reports to people previously stuck navigating a fractured system of emergency alerts that gave minimal information.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of stick

Browse Nearby Words

lanais
lance
lanced
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Cite this Entry

“Lance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lance. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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