Thesaurus results for 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

Relevance

stabs

2 of 2

noun

plural of stab

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

as in attempts

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 stabs

Verb

When Little Death stabs into their victim, there’s a geyser of blood, way more than could fit inside a human body. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026 In the heat of the moment, Voit’s daughter comes to his rescue and fatally stabs Crowley. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 24 July 2026 In the first five minutes, her Judith stabs a man at a party, escapes on skis and celebrates a job well done by bedding a besotted hottie. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026 Kara talks her out of it, and when Ruthye walks away, Kara turns back to Krem and stabs him multiple times with a sword. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 June 2026 On cue, a Frey leaps out and stabs Robb’s pregnant wife Talisa (Oona Chaplin) in the stomach, and a volley of crossbow arrows lay into Robb and his friends. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026 Mookie stabs a ball going back up the middle to save a pair of runs. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 25 June 2026 His right-hand man, Bishop, pulls an Iago on him and stabs him in the back by emptying his bullets. — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 1 June 2026 The shower curtain opens, revealing an old woman, who stabs and decapitates Mary. — Therie Hendrey-Seabrook, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Mar. 2026

Noun

Everything else–the percussive jumpscares, the distorted synth stabs, the unintelligible vocal samples–pops in and out at will. — Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 31 July 2026 The conversation ranged from Nolan’s decision to make Polyphemus (the Cyclops that Matt Damon’s Odysseus stabs in the eye) nonverbal to the film’s depiction of language itself. — Antonio Ferme, Variety, 18 July 2026 And while most of the film is unrelentingly grim, its few stabs at dark humor — most notably the punchlines about the grandmother’s faulty memory — didn’t garner a chuckle from me. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 10 July 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 Of course, editing for stabs at human embryo enhancement is far more controversial and ethically fraught. — Paul Knoepfler, STAT, 24 June 2026 However, desperate stabs at reinvention, from attempts to break into the prediction and cryptocurrency markets to a bizarre and unexpected merger with a fusion power company called TAE Technologies late last year, have done little to instill confidence. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 24 June 2026 This question stabs at the heart of the culture war that is currently raging in America. — Dr. Matthew Warshauer, Hartford Courant, 17 June 2026 The keyboard on the TravelMate P6 was perfectly satisfactory in my brief stabs at typing. — John Burek, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for stabs

Verb

An ice sculpture of a heart includes a tube through the ice arrow that pierces the heart.

— Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
And who the f--- pierces a 12 year old?

— Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026

Definition of pierces

Noun

According to the Mayo Clinic, Pilonidal disease usually occurs when hair punctures and embeds itself in a pocket of skin near the tailbone.

— Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 6 Aug. 2026
To help future researchers, the study also includes a tooth mark guide that describes and identifies several types of punctures, holes, and other marks on fossils that appear to be tooth marks.

— Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 July 2026

Definition of punctures

Verb

Michigan Dem hopeful Abdul El-Sayed jabs CNN giving him 'non-consensual colonoscopy' in recent interviews.

— , FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
But following elite competition is nearly impossible, with subtle flicks and jabs practically invisible to the naked eye—and competitors hidden behind masks.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 25 Apr. 2026

Definition of jabs

Noun

The Raiders are off Sunday before returning Monday morning, so their starting quarterback and star pass rusher will compete against each other again, though, Kubiak hopes, without any punches.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
The welcoming rum punches were a nice introduction to the soft life that this resort offers you upon entry.

— Datwon Thomas, VIBE.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of punches

Verb

After the couple’s differing tastes in music came to light, Miller asked who picks the music in the car.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026
But vintage bentwood chairs produced later are one of Williamson’s picks for older styles that continue to find a place in contemporary interiors.

— Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 9 Aug. 2026