as in scratching
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as in jabbing
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
stabbed the pesky leaf with the tines of the rake
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stabbing
Sarah Jones, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Maria remembers Jaime stabbing Carillo in the abdomen with a kitchen knife.
—Kevin Maurer, Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2026
Netflix's Adolescence is a four-episode limited series about the family of Jamie Miller (Cooper), a teenage boy accused of stabbing to death his female classmate.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
And at the Rolling Stones free concert outside San Francisco, the Hells Angels beat dozens of audience members with weighted pool cues before stabbing and beating one of them to death.
—Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Early the following morning, Anaheim police officers responded to the intersection of Santa Ana and Helena streets after witnesses reported seeing two men chasing Reyes and one of them stabbing him.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
While the victim was being transported to the hospital, the stabbing suspect barricaded himself inside the home and refused to come out, prompting a multi-agency response.
—Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 10 Jan. 2026
But the secret traitor leaves us all faithfully stabbing in the dark, trying to Sherlock their secret identity, figure out their moves without their confessional tapes.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
Martinez is accused of waiting for Reyes outside an Anaheim apartment before stabbing him.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
Reiner is charged with murder in the stabbing deaths of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.
—Sarah Jones, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Maria remembers Jaime stabbing Carillo in the abdomen with a kitchen knife.
—Kevin Maurer, Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2026
Netflix's Adolescence is a four-episode limited series about the family of Jamie Miller (Cooper), a teenage boy accused of stabbing to death his female classmate.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
And at the Rolling Stones free concert outside San Francisco, the Hells Angels beat dozens of audience members with weighted pool cues before stabbing and beating one of them to death.
—Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Early the following morning, Anaheim police officers responded to the intersection of Santa Ana and Helena streets after witnesses reported seeing two men chasing Reyes and one of them stabbing him.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
While the victim was being transported to the hospital, the stabbing suspect barricaded himself inside the home and refused to come out, prompting a multi-agency response.
—Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 10 Jan. 2026
But the secret traitor leaves us all faithfully stabbing in the dark, trying to Sherlock their secret identity, figure out their moves without their confessional tapes.
—Raven Smith, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
Martinez is accused of waiting for Reyes outside an Anaheim apartment before stabbing him.
—Sydney Barragan, Oc Register, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stabbing
Verb
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Though none of the celebrity moms in question have publicly spoken about the drama, earlier this week, Koma, whom has also produced several of Duff's songs in the past, shared a meme to his Instagram Story jabbing Tisdale French's piece in The Cut.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
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Yet the reception was precisely as if Happy Mondays had made a surprise appearance—people jabbing the air, hips swinging with merry abandon, wearing the sort of grins usually observed under bucket hats.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
28 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Tyler, the Creator’s Don’t Tap the Glass, ironically, is the least piercing and the most hedonistic, by design.—
Rolling Stone,
Rolling Stone,
29 Dec. 2025
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Streisand covered the emotionally piercing song the following year, and clever DJs around the country began splicing the two solo versions together.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
24 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Testing is also challenging, as finding a leak requires puncturing the spinal canal, which can create new leaks.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
17 Jan. 2026
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The past two months of mostly sideways churn within 3% of record highs for the S & P 500 has helped to rebalance the market, puncturing the aggressive sense of destiny around many AI plays, subduing some speculative misbehavior and allowing valuations to settle.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
20 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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In the film, director Marina Zenovich reminds Chase of the joke that offended Sweeney, best remembered for his lacerating impression of then-first lady Nancy Reagan.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Dec. 2025
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Yet this stark, lacerating comedy-drama, set in a seaside Long Island that recalls Woody Allen’s Interiors, is admirable in its uncompromising look at the havoc a long-term sibling rivalry can create for everyone within the blast radius.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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From the costume-picking process to the crazy disguises stars must wear off camera, keep scrolling for the wildest rules contestants on The Masked Singer must follow.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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Other photos show them on the sand with their arms around each other and sharing a kiss, with Tatum picking her up and holding her over his head at one point.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Viola Davis's wispy, jagged bangs are the perfect accessory to her bob.—
Elise Tabin,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
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If your coat has a large or jagged tear a few inches long, seek out a professional to try repairing the damage.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The California native seemed charmed by the flurries, sticking her tongue out to catch a snowflake in midtown Manhattan.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
20 Jan. 2026
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Consume what creates a healthy energy level, enabling you to engage with the world thoughtfully without sticking your head in the sand.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes.com,
18 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stabbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stabbing. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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