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

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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

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

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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 stab
Verb
The co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain while trying to hijack the plane, which carried about 180 passengers, most of them Israeli citizens. — Todd C. Frankel, Washington Post, 30 Sep. 2026 Pike, now 50, and her boyfriend were convicted of stabbing and beating 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer, their classmate at a job training facility in Knoxville in 1995. — Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
The wife, who had several stab wounds, ran to a neighbor’s home. — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2026 Although a member of the Senate HELP Committee, which has jurisdiction over education and labor, Murphy did not sit on the Commerce or Judiciary committees, which ultimately gets first stab at any college sports reform legislation. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 24 Sep. 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
  • Pour the bean mixture into airtight freezer bags pierced the tip of a knife to create air holes.
    — Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2026
  • One item that wasn’t returned was his 3-year-old daughter’s car seat, which had been pierced by a bullet.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of pierce
Noun
  • Robin recalled the animal charging at him twice, leaving puncture marks near his hip from clawing at him.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The man sustained a puncture wound and was taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Queens with a minor injury, according to police.
    — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of puncture
Noun
  • Starship’s first real shot at orbit SpaceX is set to launch Starship on its first genuine orbital attempt as soon as Monday morning, lifting off from Starbase, Texas, with 26 next-generation Starlink V3 satellites aboard.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The Jaguars scored on the next play to take a 28-3 lead, after which Patriots coach Mike Vrabel could be seen on the sideline with both hands on Maye’s shoulders in an apparent attempt to comfort his quarterback.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of attempt
Verb
  • At the tail end of their time on stage, the former castmates took the opportunity to jab at the Buffy revival’s cancellation earlier this year.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Rather than immediately running toward his destination on the opposite side of the field, Jefferson jabs at the defender to create even more separation.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of jab
Noun
  • Slicing $50 off knocks JBL’s latest battery-toting heavy hitter into sweet-spot pricing and gives you serious acoustic punch and endless endurance.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The one-two punch of a higher-than-usual tide and weeks of heavy rain submerged South Florida streets this weekend and put the region under a coastal flood advisory.
    — Alex Harris Updated September 27, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of punch
Noun
  • The Nittany Lions didn't register a first down on four of their final five tries.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Florida is 2-4 in Colombia and has won just once in four tries since 2015.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of try
Verb
  • Politically, spiritually, institutionally, financially, environmentally, psychologically — pick your adverb.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The affidavit said the woman also provided police photos of her injuries and said a friend attempted to pick her up from the home on on the day of the incident but was turned away.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of pick
Verb
  • But as a viewer, at least, watching American Horror Story feels more than ever like being stuck in some sort of hell.
    — Jen Chaney, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2026
  • If you have ever been stuck in traffic wishing your car could sprout wings, Samson Sky has been working on something pretty close.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of stick

Phrases Containing stab

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squooshy
stab
stabbed
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Cite this Entry

“Stab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stab. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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