stab 1 of 2

verb

Definition of stabnext
as in to pierce
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object stabbed the pesky leaf with the tines of the rake

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

stab

2 of 2

noun

ˈstab How to pronounce stab (audio)
1
as in puncture
a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument the injection left a small stab on her upper arm

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in attempt
an effort to do or accomplish something everybody will get a stab at solving the problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 stab
Verb
The film centers on a New York murder trial where a teenage boy is accused of stabbing his abusive dad and a jury has the kid's fate in their hands. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2026 In one ⁠instance, the suspect is accused ​of personally taking part in the killing by stabbing a victim in the chest with a knife, the prosecutors said. — Reuters, NBC news, 1 July 2026
Noun
Responding officers found an adult man suffering from at least one stab wound, according to Sacramento police. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026 As are chunks of the opening song; a line here, and a line there; an entirely new closing number has replaced the first stabs at a closing number; and every awkward silence is excised. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for stab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stab
  1. pierce
  2. puncture
  3. attempt
  4. jab
  5. punch
  6. try
  7. pick
  8. stick
Verb
  • Defensively strong enough to stifle their talented attackers, with the technical ability to pierce their backline on the counter.
    — Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
  • Even Good’s maroon Honda Pilot, the windshield pierced by Ross’s bullet, was bundled away by the FBI into a storage facility before state law enforcement could get a look at it.
    — Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026
Definition of pierce
Noun
  • Given their expectations entering the day, Netcompany-INEOS will be deeply disappointed with Kevin Vauquelin’s puncture, their French leader having enjoyed such an impressive Tour last year.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • The puncture left a hole in his sock between his big and middle toes, where a red stain formed.
    — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Definition of puncture
Noun
  • No one expects Moreno to spend like the Dodgers do (and even Walter’s fellow owners want a salary cap in an attempt to stop the Dodgers).
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • One interception attempt resulted in a large explosion that spectacularly blew the roof off a fuel tank.
    — Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of attempt
Verb
  • Two of the points on the rear treble hook were jabbed deeply into the flesh on the outside of the pike’s mouth.
    — Jack G. Mell, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026
  • The show ushered in a new era of winking, elbow-jabbing meta-musicals.
    — Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 26 June 2026
Definition of jab
Noun
  • Swap pumpkins for fruit-o’-lanterns, wrap crescent dough around hot dogs for mummy dogs and mix a batch of blood punch.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 July 2026
  • The summer is still young, but travelers have already dealt with the seasonal one-two-three punch of extreme weather, schedule disruptions and stressful flights.
    — Natalie B. Compton, Washington Post, 8 July 2026
Definition of punch
Noun
  • Keiko Fujimori, Peru’s most powerful politician over the past decade, has won the presidency once held by her father on her fourth try, according to official results.
    — Helena Carpio, Washington Post, 2 July 2026
  • But virtual try-on technology has been tackling this challenge by letting shoppers try on different frame proportions and styles.
    — K.H. Koehler, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of try
Verb
  • The engaged couple from Orlando, Florida, pick a different city to visit each Fourth of July.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Bellinger and Schlittler were selected by their fellow players, while Rice was picked by Major League Baseball.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 5 July 2026
Definition of pick
Verb
  • Their families clung to the shade of the trees on either side, where one woman had two American flags stuck through her ponytail.
    — Jesse Bedayn, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • That level of output convinced Vogt to stick him in the leadoff spot a little more than three weeks into his career and not look back.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of stick

Phrases Containing stab

Browse Nearby Words

squooshy
stab
stabbed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Stab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stab. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on stab

Nglish: Translation of stab for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All