as in to stab
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
jabbed a pickle and tossed it on the plate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of jab
Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
While O'Brien's jab earned instant laughs from the Oscars crowd, the zinger fell flat for Kid Rock, who addressed the joke in an X post on March 16.
—Edward Segarra, Freep.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Faith Bugenhagen, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
The casting director playfully jabbed Anderson in her acceptance speech, referencing the filmmaker's 14 career Oscar nominations without a victory.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for jab
Noun
The lineup of comedians who will take jabs at Hart has yet to be announced.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
While O'Brien's jab earned instant laughs from the Oscars crowd, the zinger fell flat for Kid Rock, who addressed the joke in an X post on March 16.
—Edward Segarra, Freep.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
The attorney general also took the opportunity to jab Cornyn, scrutinizing him for backing the abolishment of the filibuster.
—Faith Bugenhagen, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
The casting director playfully jabbed Anderson in her acceptance speech, referencing the filmmaker's 14 career Oscar nominations without a victory.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for jab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jab
Noun
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Here’s where the viral clip gets its real punch.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2026
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Our expert take The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.—
Jason Stauffer,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The teen was involved in an argument when his adversary stabbed him multiple times with a knife, said police.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Police allege the suspect then recklessly stabbed backward numerous times, striking the victim in the leg, according to Jaques.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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No matter that Route 66 was a federal highway; the chance for a little ex-post-facto rerouting likely appealed to Mayor Brandon Johnson as another way to give the feds a little poke in the eye.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
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DeSantis, in Jacksonville on Friday, could not resist a poke at his fellow Republicans.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Production quirks like volume and pitch changes, multiple beat switches, brash sonic redirections punctuated by everything from samples of glass shattering to synth stabs puncturing through sheaths of filters, make for a kind of chaotic symphony that feels deliriously of the moment.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
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Beckett’s patter of repetitions and reversals—as the tape is rewound, replayed, and punctured by Krapp’s speech in the present—resembles Lerner’s technique.—
Hannah Gold,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Armed with my beloved buns (one already torn into) the rest of the flight slipped by, until New York’s piercing skyline came firmly into view.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
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The bullet that struck McKay passed through his arm, pierced his torso and struck his heart inside the Key Gardens burger joint, on Metropolitan Ave.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Your job is to pick and choose your way through the heap.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
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Boo and Scout were hand-picked for the Bidens by staff at the animal welfare group.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The astronauts will stick close to home for the first 25 hours of their 10-day test flight, checking out the capsule in orbit around Earth before firing the main engine that will propel them to the moon.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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The average commuter spends 63 hours a year stuck in traffic.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jab. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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