Thesaurus results for LANCE

lance 1 of 2

noun

ˈlan(t)s

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

Relevance

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

While it is widely feared (and often killed on sight) the fer de lance is not aggressive and bites only when threatened. —

Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Jan. 2026 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

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

Some of the Bindjareb attempted to escape, while others grabbed their spears, and at least five Bindjareb individuals were killed in the resulting skirmish.

— Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Trim the ends of the spears, cutting off no more than an inch.

— Victoria Spencer, Martha Stewart, 31 Mar. 2026