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
squibbed; squibbing
Examples of squib in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kayla Bartsch, National Review, 20 Dec. 2023
This political backdrop raises the possibility that his low-energy announcement speech may be a damp squib.
—The Editors, National Review, 15 Nov. 2022
Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 20 Jan. 2024
Having just scored to regain the lead, Clay-Chalkville tried to squib the ensuing kickoff.
—Ben Thomas | Bthomas@al.com, al, 3 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for squib
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Noun
Despite the proclamations of victory hailing from progressives across religious lines, the explosive document was ultimately a squib — the kind of pyrotechnic device used by Hollywood to achieve a particular incendiary effect but that inflicts no real damage.
—Kayla Bartsch, National Review, 20 Dec. 2023
This political backdrop raises the possibility that his low-energy announcement speech may be a damp squib.
—The Editors, National Review, 15 Nov. 2022
Verb
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
Having just scored to regain the lead, Clay-Chalkville tried to squib the ensuing kickoff.
—Ben Thomas | Bthomas@al.com, al, 3 Dec. 2021
See All Example Sentences for squib
Cite this Entry
“Squib.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squib. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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