as in to stab
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
she speared a pea with her fork and angrily flung it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spear
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
As settlers moved into the area and took tribal lands near the river for farming, the Bindjareb resorted to taking the settlers’ crops and spearing their cattle for food.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Reigns charged Fatu, but ate a spear for a nearfall.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for spear
Verb
After striking out Bryson Stott for the inning’s first out, Webb got an assist from Chapman, who speared Edmundo Sosa’s sharp grounder and fired home for the second out.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026
As settlers moved into the area and took tribal lands near the river for farming, the Bindjareb resorted to taking the settlers’ crops and spearing their cattle for food.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
Their styles of play are their own, but this trio at the tip of the spear for the next generation of men’s tennis that is suddenly coming for the sport is also a collective of Sinnercaraz descendants.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 31 May 2026
Reigns charged Fatu, but ate a spear for a nearfall.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for spear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spear
Verb
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Jury convicted Anthony earlier Tuesday The jury convicted Anthony of murder in the stabbing death of 17‑year‑old Austin Metcalf at a Frisco ISD track meet – a case that drew national attention and intensified conversations about self‑defense, race, and safety at school events.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
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Emotional testimony details shocking stabbing The trial, which began with jury selection on June 1, included emotional testimony from eye witnesses and graphic video footage of the chaotic event, CBS News reported.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Noun
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In the girls field events, South Hadley’s Natalie Rios threw her personal best and achieved third best javelin throw in the state at 125-04.—
Hannah Hughes,
Boston Herald,
7 June 2026
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Sergei Bubka of the Soviet Union breaks his world outdoor pole vault record and Seppo Raty of Finland smashes the world javelin record during the Toto International Super Track and Field Meet in Japan.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
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The Remarkable Life and Times of George Forster A gunshot pierced the calm.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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Telefone, the piercing 2016 breakout debut from Noname, turns ten this year, and the Chicago rapper is celebrating it with a late-summer anniversary trek.—
Alex Suskind,
Pitchfork,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Benjamin began Wednesday’s quarterfinals at Constitution Hall by correctly spelling vamplate, a round plate of iron mounted on the shaft of a lance or tilting spear to protect the hand.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 May 2026
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Other perennial species are starting to become more widely available at specialty nurseries including lance leaf blanket flower, Gaillardia aestivalis, which is native to the southeastern United States.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
4 May 2026
Verb
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The helium-balloon hype of potentially going undefeated through the final three rounds of the playoffs has been punctured and now it’s gone for good.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
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Deputies said that the stab wound, which punctured the woman's lung, did not appear to be life-threatening.—
CBS Miami Team,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The threats just keep jabbing at America’s borders.—
Donald G. McNeil Jr,
Washington Post,
1 June 2026
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And now, 44 years on, new generations of Villa fans could also cherish the moment when Buendia’s cross was jabbed in from close range by Morgan Rogers for the third, ensuring every Brummie in Istanbul could relax and soak in the game’s final 30 minutes.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Verb
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Aiyuk started his Sunday video by seemingly comparing the Niners to kids who don’t get picked for a pickup basketball game and ruin the fun for everyone else by taking the ball and going home.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
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In anticipation of that, the nonprofit Street Soccer USA is gearing up with friendly pick-up matches.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Everyone can relate to a character waiting for a phone call, or a text, that feeling of being stuck in a purgatorial gap that won’t end until the other person has made contact.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
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Malik Washington and Jalen Tolbert are obviously very likely to stick, and Tutu Atwell will enter camp as a front-runner to make the team.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spear. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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