lancing

verb

present participle of lance
as in stabbing
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object doctors used to lance infected sores, so that they could drain clean

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 lancing Use the lancing device (with a new lancet each time) to obtain a drop of blood from the side of your fingertip. — Karen Berger, Verywell Health, 30 June 2026 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 Penn, giving a brilliant performance of cold villainy that could win him a third Oscar, is unafraid of lancing the inherent goofiness of a fascist. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2025 Sivas begins with apartment blocks and minarets lancing a peach sky shaded with haze. — Kurt Johnson, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lancing
  1. stabbing
  2. piercing
  3. puncturing
  4. jabbing
  5. picking
  6. sticking
Verb
  • As officers worked on one stabbing scene, more calls came in — another stabbing, then another, then three more, all before officers tracked down and arrested the suspect nearby.
    — Maddie White, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • While at the scene, they were notified by BART police that a third stabbing victim had been found near the Fruitvale station.
    — Jason Green, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of stabbing
Verb
  • Consider adding a dangly silver piercing charm to your ring fingers.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 22 Aug. 2026
  • There’s a serious, piercing look on De’Andre Kirkpatrick’s face.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of piercing
Verb
  • The shrapnel tore through the metal surrounding the engine, shattering the window at row 11, leaving a dent in the plane near row 8 and puncturing the body below the wing, as well as gouging and denting the tail, the NTSB said.
    — Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • According to the company website, the glove is designed to disrupt sensory nerves without puncturing or burning the skin.
    — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of puncturing
Verb
  • That’s partly the result of actions by Curtis, like taking customer’s phone calls and jabbing at a competitor on social media.
    — Jordan Valinsky, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The show ushered in a new era of winking, elbow-jabbing meta-musicals.
    — Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of jabbing
Verb
  • Allergists recommend bypassing diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and instead, picking your favorite nonsedating antihistamine pill, like fexofenadine (Allegra), loratadine (Claritin) or cetirizine (Zyrtec), according to the World Allergy Organization.
    — Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Now, the state is essentially picking winners, not rescuing big US companies that are deemed critical to the economy.
    — Norah Rami, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of picking
Verb
  • On the podcast, Sheridan acknowledged the Jimmy connection, while sticking in the nail in the coffin on the series.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026
  • That could be felt in a few months time as less snow sticking the foothills.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of sticking

Browse Nearby Words

lances
lancing
land
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Cite this Entry

“Lancing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lancing. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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