Thesaurus results for SPEARS

spears 1 of 2

noun

plural of spear

as in javelins

a weapon with a long straight handle and sharp head or blade the Roman gladiator thrust his spear triumphantly into the lion's side

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spears

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of spear

as in stabs

to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object she speared a pea with her fork and angrily flung it

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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 spears

Noun

The finish came when Rollins nearly secured a victory but met his end after a pair of rib-splitting spears. —

Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026 Up next was pineapple, its spikes thoughtfully sheared smooth and cut into spears. —

Literary Hub, 8 May 2026 The farmers—many barefoot, carrying a melange of machetes, spears, and old guns—lay in wait. —

Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 May 2026 Smashing the spears with a rolling pin and dressing them in lemon and olive oil magically tenderizes the otherwise tough veg. —

Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026 Pão de queijo, as moreish as popcorn, manioc gnocchi, rock-pool sea urchins and Tainha fish, caught by local fishermen who still use traditional canoes and spears, are all served on banana leaves on a wooden table outdoors. —

Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026 That means fresh and tender asparagus spears, crunchy snap pea pods, and spicy radishes are in season. —

Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2026 Choose the freshest asparagus at the store—look for firm, upright spears with smooth skin and unspoiled tips. —

Victoria Spencer, Martha Stewart, 31 Mar. 2026 Sexy little spears of Green Asparagus (there’s also white and purple varieties) spring’s top stalk option, high in folates and digestive enzymes, elevate every plate (just pinch your nose when nature calls later). —

Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spears

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