squib

1 of 2

noun

ˈskwib 

1

a

: a short humorous or satiric writing or speech

b

: a short news item

especially : filler

2

a

: a small firecracker

b

: a broken firecracker in which the powder burns with a fizz

3

: a small electric or pyrotechnic device used to ignite a charge

squib

2 of 2

verb

squibbed; squibbing

intransitive verb

1

: to speak, write, or publish squibs

2

: to fire a squib

transitive verb

1

a

: to utter in an offhand manner

b

: to make squibs against : lampoon

2

: to shoot off : fire

3

: to kick (a football) on a kickoff so that it bounces along the ground

Examples of squib in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Titans opened the game with an impressive drive, aided by a poor squib on the opening kick that set them up at the Legend 39-yard line. —Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 7 Dec. 2024

Instead, he was removed from the squib investigation. —Krista Stevens, Longreads, 2 July 2024

Verb

De La Cruz checked his swing and squibbed a single right between Brett Baty and Francisco Lindor to score Bubba Thompson and tie the game. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2024

But then Sean McDermott, the Bills coach, elected to kick the ball deep instead of squibbing it and bleeding a little more time off the clock. —Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 20 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing squib

• damp squib
• squib kick

Kids Definition

squib

noun

ˈskwib

: a short humorous or witty writing or speech