lances 1 of 2

plural of lance
as in spears
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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lances

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of lance

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 lances
Noun
Bottom cleaners use lances to scrape biofoul off hulls. David Goldman, CNN Money, 23 June 2026 Um dos lances mais bonitos da nossa história. Stuart James, New York Times, 16 June 2026 Warhorses charge, lances down, crashing through the tilts as lances break on shields and men topple from their steeds. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026 Three or four decades ago, the newspaperman was appealingly raffish—at once a bum who drank too much and a knight-errant who charged unafraid at social injustice, succored the weak, and crossed lances with the powerful and arrogant. David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025 At a handful of locations, these spikes extended out to nearly a meter, looking more like lances than anything needed to ward off a close-in attack. ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lances
Noun
  • Mexico were being booed, booed furiously, but even that low rumble failed to drown out the whistles, hurled from the stands of the Estadio Akron with the ferocity and barb of spears.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 19 June 2026
  • Instead, use the heat to cook up sides like broccolini spears or baby potatoes that taste even better next to this steak.
    Josh Miller, Southern Living, 15 June 2026
Verb
  • His right-hand man, Bishop, pulls an Iago on him and stabs him in the back by emptying his bullets.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 June 2026
  • The shower curtain opens, revealing an old woman, who stabs and decapitates Mary.
    Therie Hendrey-Seabrook, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 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 Tofinu took refuge in the lagoons along the Bight of Benin, a core area of the slave trade, venturing forth in canoes with harpoons, javelins, and swords to fight off raiders from powerful nearby kingdoms.
    Laurent Dubois, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • If a foreign object punctures the tread or sidewall, your tire can deflate slowly or quickly, depending on the puncture.
    Jason Fogelson, AJC.com, 29 May 2026
  • In worst-case scenarios, the ice punctures the hull.
    Deena Theresa, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • And who the f--- pierces a 12 year old?
    Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026
  • Lockwood’s music instills joy in listening, and such revitalized desire leaves your body freshly tender, sensitive to whatever pierces the ear.
    Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Continue reading … OUT OF LEFT FIELD — Tom Hanks jokingly jabs MS NOW while speaking with reporter live on the network.
    , FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
  • But following elite competition is nearly impossible, with subtle flicks and jabs practically invisible to the naked eye—and competitors hidden behind masks.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Washington, which picks first, Utah, Memphis and Chicago have the first shots at those potential franchise-defining players.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
  • The Panthers were connected to a potential trade for Winnipeg Jets netminder and three-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck, but that is likely not happening now after Florida sent its haul of draft picks to Ottawa.
    Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • Your practical eye spots tiny gaps, while a kind tone keeps people open to change so the fix actually sticks today.
    PubSubHub User, Baltimore Sun, 4 June 2026
  • Selfie sticks For the safety and comfort of all guests, guests may only bring selfie sticks, handheld extension poles and tripods no longer than 18 inches on board, for use in most areas.
    Eve Chen, USA Today, 3 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Lances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lances. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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