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
Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
Points are scored if a rider breaks the tip of their lances on the other rider's shield.
—Claire Osborn, Austin American-Statesman, 12 Mar. 2024
Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2024
This week, an Israeli missile lanced through his house, killing the 23 people inside, including more than a dozen women and two children.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lance
Noun
Multiply the rain’s lances, multiply their ruin, the grace born from subtraction as the hold’s iron door
rolled over their eyes like pots left out in the rain,
and the bolt rammed home its echo, the way that thunder-
claps perpetuate their reverberation.
—Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
Points are scored if a rider breaks the tip of their lances on the other rider's shield.
—Claire Osborn, Austin American-Statesman, 12 Mar. 2024
Verb
Friday, when Lebanese officials say two Israeli missiles lanced through the Zahra family‘s three-story building.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2024
This week, an Israeli missile lanced through his house, killing the 23 people inside, including more than a dozen women and two children.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for lance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lance
Noun
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Chick-fil-A and Chipotle were the tip of the spear in augmenting new restaurant locations last year among top brands, per a new report from food service research firm Technomic.—
Joseph Zeballos-Roig,
Quartz,
27 May 2025
-
One galaxy wielded a superior weapon: a quasar that emitted a spear of radiation.—
Paul Smaglik,
Discover Magazine,
21 May 2025
Verb
-
Early morning stabbing in Downtown Pittsburgh sends one person to hospital Food & Drink Product Recall Walmart Kroger Mary Cunningham Mary Cunningham is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
18 June 2025
-
Wohl allegedly tried to stab the officer, who had knife marks on his vest, sources said.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
The decathlon will be contested Wednesday, June 11 (100, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400), and Thursday, June 12 (110 hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, 1,500).—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
10 June 2025
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Flagpole through the chest (Final Destination 3) Perry Malinowski (Maggie Ma) is impaled by a flagpole that whizzes through the air, javelin style.—
Gayle Sequeira,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
The dura can be damaged from head injuries or punctured during surgical procedures involving the sinuses, brain or spine, such as lumbar puncture, epidurals, spinal anesthesia or myelogram.—
Danielle Wilhour,
The Conversation,
28 May 2025
-
That is why dropping a game in this fashion punctures the soul.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
In a completely spontaneous decision, Flom sat down and got one of his ears pierced with a sparkling stud, and Haven’s reaction was priceless.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
15 June 2025
-
She was never seen alive again A handsome stranger with piercing blue eyes asked them for rides.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
Verb
-
The 45-year-old victim was jabbed once by an assailant around 6:29 p.m. on Laconia Ave.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2025
-
Glasner quite frequently does a sort of pointy thing, jabbing his finger at the south London air, when Crystal Palace score.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
11 May 2025
Verb
-
The Pacers know exactly how to pick his high-dribble pocket every time.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
14 June 2025
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Prosecutors say Abrego Garcia made more than 100 trips, typically transporting people within the country after picking them up in the Houston area.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
Verb
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Jeannot didn’t stick in Tampa and has never come close to matching that one wild season, in part because his opportunity, both with the Lightning and the Kings, plummeted.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
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And while other candidates have brought up the allegations and hit at Cuomo's record, no one attack seems to be sticking, and polling shows that Cuomo remains the front-runner.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lance. Accessed 22 Jun. 2025.
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