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
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
-
Ukraine is the tip of the spear for the democratic embrace of dreams.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Most importantly sharpening the tip of the spear — get the offensive line right.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The video, without sound, shows the three of them gesticulating at each other before the 13-year-old in red pants appears to charge David and stab him.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Among the proponents present in the Legislature on Tuesday was Shelley Catanyag, whose husband was stabbed and killed while conducting his duties as a Sacramento County Health Inspector.—
Andrew Graham
March 17,
Sacbee.com,
17 Mar. 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
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Traditionally, Oscars hosts have been at their best when puncturing the pretensions of the stars in attendance, but for the most part, host Conan O’Brien bought into their sense of their own righteousness.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Some are demanding change And just like that, the Cesar Chavez myth is punctured.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
According to court records, one of the bullets pierced the digital display of the cash register, shattering glass and plastic and causing injuries to the owner’s face, eye, hand and stomach.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Loud Sound Reduction is another nice-to-have perk carried over from the AirPods Pro series, letting the headphones reduce the severity of sirens, construction and other ear-piercing sounds.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the months since, Adams has continued to jab at his successor in social media posts.—
ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
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The victim tried to flee, but a witness who saw the altercation told police that the suspects made jabbing motions towards the victim’s body.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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There is a weekly schedule of group activities to pick from such as the morning mantra chanting, group yoga sessions, Vedanta talks, excursions to the village, treks to local peaks, nature and forest walks.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
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Even the most ardent of Notre Dame football fans would not be able to pick him out of a lineup, or name him.—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This will be a bumper quarter for oil and gas shareholders, who have always learned to stick it out through the doldrums for spikey periods like this.—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
19 Mar. 2026
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Because the industry relies on roughly 2,000 expensive helium containers, many of which are now stuck in Qatar or on cargo ships en route, the initial pinch will feel worse until those tanks are repositioned.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lance. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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