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
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Recent Examples of stab
Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 24 Mar. 2026
In October, two people were killed and three others were seriously injured when a man rammed a car into a crowd and stabbed people at a synagogue in Manchester in what police declared a terrorist attack.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2026
How to identify first-round upsets The first round is the spot to take some stabs at some upsets, but be wary of taking those teams too far.
—Cj Moore, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stab
Verb
The graphic images that included the victims’ bodies were redacted, though blood was visible on walls, floors and the beds in which they were fatally stabbed.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 24 Mar. 2026
In October, two people were killed and three others were seriously injured when a man rammed a car into a crowd and stabbed people at a synagogue in Manchester in what police declared a terrorist attack.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
The other suffered three stab wounds to the right armpit and chest area and was also listed in stable condition, according to Boisvert.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2026
How to identify first-round upsets The first round is the spot to take some stabs at some upsets, but be wary of taking those teams too far.
—Cj Moore, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stab
Verb
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Armed with my beloved buns (one already torn into) the rest of the flight slipped by, until New York’s piercing skyline came firmly into view.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
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The bullet that struck McKay passed through his arm, pierced his torso and struck his heart inside the Key Gardens burger joint, on Metropolitan Ave.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Police said Canut hit the employee and then scratched the customer in the face and bit her hand, leaving a puncture wound.—
Meghan Schiller,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Quality stability balls use thick, durable materials that are less likely to sustain damage from tears or punctures.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The vote marks the seventh attempt to advance the measure, which needs 60 votes.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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On the ensuing possession, San Diego State’s Naomi Panganiban missed a 3-point attempt and the Jayhawks rebounded the ball.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While his peers aimed to achieve maximum tension by barking about capitalism over jabbing, if not outright obnoxious, guitars, Shaw scrapped layer after layer—distortion pedals, crash cymbals, eventually the drum machine itself—to crystalize his band’s own sound.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
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In the months since, Adams has continued to jab at his successor in social media posts.—
ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But Johnson quickly got going with two 3s and eight points in the first as the Cavaliers threw the first punch to take a 21-17 lead.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Mar. 2026
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This one was a gut punch very much on par with those.—
Noah Trister,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Sinner broke him in his second try, in the third game of the match.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
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As psilocybin has become more available, more people are giving retreats like these a try.—
Natalia V. Osipova,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One couldn’t have picked a more beautiful place to host one of the most polluting industries.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
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The Oilers, the two-time defending conference champs, were picked by many to occupy the perch that the Ducks currently hold.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Simplifying remote access for users with a wide range of tech savvy (or for those stuck in BIOS or trying to troubleshoot) can speed up support and maybe even prevent the need to send a machine in the mail for servicing.—
John Burek,
PC Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
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Many oil tankers are currently stuck outside the Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s coast, and the blockage has sent Brent crude’s price to nearly $120 per barrel at times.—
Stan Choe,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stab. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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