1
as in stabs
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
let's skewer our marshmallows on these sticks and start toasting
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in ridicules
to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter
the satirical comic strip gleefully skewers many of society's sacred cows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of skewers
Nicholson portrays a delusional stalker whom viewers will warm to, while Weaving skewers celebrity culture.
—
Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
The citizen in you laughs heartily as this film, a tragicomedy, skewers the hypocrisies and ironies of the repressed West.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2025
The Offer retells The Godfather’s making with the enthusiasm of fan fiction, while The Studio skewers executives for making garbage —conveniently produced by those same executives.
—Remy Blumenfeld, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, a story from Indiana explains how one bird species skewers its prey on barbed wire, then returns for it later.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Wall skewers America’s adoption industrial complex which has worked to take Native babies and children by force or funny business from Native families and communities and place them in white homes for 100 years.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
The citizen in you laughs heartily as this film, a tragicomedy, skewers the hypocrisies and ironies of the repressed West.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2025
The Offer retells The Godfather’s making with the enthusiasm of fan fiction, while The Studio skewers executives for making garbage —conveniently produced by those same executives.
—Remy Blumenfeld, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, a story from Indiana explains how one bird species skewers its prey on barbed wire, then returns for it later.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Wall skewers America’s adoption industrial complex which has worked to take Native babies and children by force or funny business from Native families and communities and place them in white homes for 100 years.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skewers
Verb
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The suspect pounces on Ennin while the victim is down and stabs him multiple times before running off.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
6 Jan. 2026
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After Fiona confesses to killing Willem, a raging Constance stabs Dahlia.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Back in their teenage years, Lexi’s older sister Andrea is depicted as a mean girl who ridicules Catherine mercilessly.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
9 Jan. 2026
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Then there’s the loud kind, where the audience openly ridicules you.—
Adrienne LaFrance,
The Atlantic,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But Anderson punctures his weed haze with the bright light of a past that in actuality never dimmed, when Lockjaw begins to hunt Pat and Willa.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
24 Nov. 2025
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Recounting his visit with Shelton’s body after she’d been taken off of life support in From Bleak to Dark, Maron punctures the somber scene with a joke about taking a selfie.—
Mikey O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Chelsea Handler honors Rob Reiner, mocks DiCaprio's 'Titanic' vacationNeed a news break?—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
5 Jan. 2026
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There, Callahan mocks him, saying that killing him won't assuage Mike of his guilt.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Nothing that pierces the skin should ever be used as leverage over a child's opportunity to education and to learn.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Dec. 2025
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Nicole Kidman's stare pierces the room.—
Jennifer Brett,
Nashville Tennessean,
16 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Research in habit formation consistently shows that behavior sticks when it is tied to context cues, environment and routine rather than motivation alone.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
1 Jan. 2026
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Let’s hope the finale sticks the landing.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Srinivas, who often jabs the search engine giant, made an interesting point.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
3 Oct. 2025
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Haggard jabs Baird over mailers The race is already tense.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The robot picks unsorted bearing rings and places them onto a buffer table.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
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Our top picks start at $16, with some even on sale, too.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skewers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skewers. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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