Synonyms of stabs

stabs 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of stab

as in pierces

to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object

stabbed the pesky leaf with the tines of the rake

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pierces
• punctures
• jabs
• picks
• sticks
• pecks
• spits
• impales
• pokes
• spikes
• transfixes
• spears
• punches
• lances
• gores
• slices
• skewers
• harpoons
• runs through
• transpierces
• perforates
• pinks
• cuts
• thrusts
• pricks
• spindles
• knifes
• riddles
• quills
• pikes
• poniards
• bayonets
• prongs
• pinpricks
• gimlets
• dirks

stabs

2 of 2

noun

plural of stab

1

as in punctures

a mark or small hole made by a pointed instrument

the injection left a small stab on her upper arm

Synonyms & Similar Words

• punctures
• punches
• tears
• slits
• pricks
• cuts
• perforations
• grooves
• pinpricks
• pinholes
• breaks
• slashes
• gouges
• hollows
• rips
• lacerations
• ruptures
• incisions
• rents
• notches
• gashes

2

as in attempts

an effort to do or accomplish something

everybody will get a stab at solving the problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

• attempts
• tries
• goes
• shots
• bids
• offers
• whacks
• passes
• endeavors
• bashes
• flings
• cracks
• essays
• whirls
• trials
• assays
• throes
• strivings
• struggles
• undertakings
• trial and errors

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of stabs

Verb

The suspect pounces on Ennin while the victim is down and stabs him multiple times before running off. —Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026

After Fiona confesses to killing Willem, a raging Constance stabs Dahlia. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Dec. 2025

Later, Fiona confronts Constance at the Van Ness mansion, where Constance stabs Dahlia in the leg in front of Fiona. —Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025

So Dek stabs the back of Tessa’s head, killing her permanently. —Adam B. Vary, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025

After a dramatic confrontation among all parties, Jonah stabs Henry in the chest and shoots him point-blank in the head. —Claire Franken, TVLine, 18 Sep. 2025

The video shows Zarutska sit in a seat in front of Brown, who fixates on her and after several minutes pulls out a knife and stabs her several times in the neck, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. —Danielle Battaglia, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2025

Harrison stabs Prater with the needle and knocks the billionaire out. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025

The person then stabs it with a long knife. —Claudia Lauer, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025

Noun

Does anyone, including the creators of this admittedly atmospheric combo of supernatural spookiness, miscellaneous folk-horror debris, slasher-flick shenanigans, vague stabs at gender politics, and blatant cakesploitation? —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2025

There were stabs at horny lounge jazz, a melodramatic Latin guitar ballad, even a folksy blues number. —Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 18 Oct. 2025

But before that transition takes place, here are a few final stabs at what’s to come for the Timberwolves in the 2025-26 season. —Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025

That did actually happen, but Van Sant and screenwriter Austin Kolodny make some additional stabs at turning Fred into the spine of the picture, structuring the movie around his broadcasts — a filmmaking convention that doesn’t really bring anything new to this particular story. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2025

Shorter sci-fi stabs meet surging upward flourishes which also link Believe stylistically to disco and Hi-NRG, associating the track with certain gay subcultural histories. —Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 9 Aug. 2025

While never-ending rounds of press spread into the evening, Monsta X sets a tempo and refuses to waver, cracking jokes and hyping each other up while taking stabs at English. —Abby Webster, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019