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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Police said over the last year five men were attacked along the popular trail; one of the victims was found stabbed to death under a bridge. — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026 In his criminal case, Sanchez is set to plead guilty in connection with the altercation with the truck driver in Indianapolis last year that led to him being stabbed, online court records showed in September. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Noun
But multiple stab wounds and the surrounding evidence point to her husband. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026 The responding officers located a man with at least one stab wound. — Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 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
  • The sound of jackhammering in the Horsches’ backyard pierced the otherwise quiet street Wednesday afternoon.
    — Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Another piece sliced through his salivary gland before bouncing off his jaw and piercing the back of his neck, severing an artery and embedding in a vertebra.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of pierce
Noun
  • The seven-step facial includes a cleanse; a professional biostimulating step applied to the skin with no needles; lifting; nano-infusion with a no-puncture tip; a cold biocellulose mask; LED, and finishing serums and SPF.
    — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Officers encountered Harrison at the doorway with bleeding cuts on her wrist and puncture wounds around her neck.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of puncture
Noun
  • Days before the execution attempt, Lee rejected the clemency request.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Distributed by Hive Media Corp, the drama reconstructs the August 15, 1974 assassination attempt on President Park Chung-hee and stars Yu Hae-jin, Park Hae-il, and Lee Min-ho as figures probing contradictions in the state’s official inquiry.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of attempt
Verb
  • Rainbow continued to jab the secretary of health as his primary opposition throughout the parody of the Frank Loesser song.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Then, inside the death house, executioners struggled to find a vein, jabbing Pike with at least seven needles, according to her lawyers, one of whom watched in dismay.
    — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of jab
Noun
  • After landing several punches and kicks and taking his opponent to the ground multiple times, LaPenna eventually became fatigued and called for the match to be ended.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Dodgers will need more punch from their lineup to have a chance at getting back to the Fall Classic.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of punch
Noun
  • For example, using a quantum computer to break the current RSA-2048 encryption employed in website security, banking and electronic ID cards would require magic states that would fail only once in 10 billion tries.
    — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Reese will try to follow Stewart and win the title in her first try.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of try
Verb
  • The broadcaster and champion of the high street, who transformed the fortunes of Harvey Nichols, picks her favourites.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 16 Oct. 2026
  • While the three were picking their way through a clump of trees at the far end of the cornfield, half a dozen does came out of the willows single file, walked under my platform within six yards of me, and started to feed.
    — Al Dawson, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of pick
Verb
  • As such, the greatest obstacle to genuine transformation is getting stuck in the planning cycle.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Chatten’s narrators are stuck in a perpetual apartness—desperate for safety and connection, but repeatedly failing to find it.
    — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of stick

Phrases Containing stab

Browse Nearby Words

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 20 Oct. 2026.

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