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
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 jab
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Vu attended the Blazers-Grizzlies game with his friend James Kim, the recipient of many of Vu’s elbow jabs and questions during games over the years.
—Jason Quick, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
James Pearce, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
The weight of the pressure associated with being the Wildcats’ first-year coach, of not having won an NCAA Tournament game in a decade and lightheartedly being jabbed by his players as The Big Zero, had temporarily been lifted.
—Jesse Temple, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jab
Noun
In a great scene in the 2013 movie 42, Rickey (played by Harrison Ford) taunts the young athlete with racist jabs.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
Vu attended the Blazers-Grizzlies game with his friend James Kim, the recipient of many of Vu’s elbow jabs and questions during games over the years.
—Jason Quick, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
There was joy and relief in abundance as Jota jabbed a finger towards the badge on his shirt before jubilant team-mate Curtis Jones jumped on his back.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
The weight of the pressure associated with being the Wildcats’ first-year coach, of not having won an NCAA Tournament game in a decade and lightheartedly being jabbed by his players as The Big Zero, had temporarily been lifted.
—Jesse Temple, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jab
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jab
Noun
-
The entirety of Sinners may take place over the span of only 24 hours, but Ryan Coogler (Creed, Black Panther) sure manages to pack a punch into that timeframe.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Duhamel walks us through Staten's rash actions, still driven by being lost in a haze of grief, including a punch that will have serious repercussions for Staten going forward.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The passenger who shot him was stabbed in the back and lungs and remains in critical condition, according to CBS News.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Police in Frisco on Thursday night responded to a gunshot call at a house where relatives of a 17-year-old boy who was stabbed to death at a track meet live.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In the first, mice repeatedly poked their noses into a food port, with progressively more pokes required to earn each food pellet.—
Adam Kepecs,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2025
-
And with two goals over the final 13:11 of regulation, thanks to Aidan Thompson’s rebound and Jared Wright’s 5-hole poke, the Pios darn near gave everybody in maroon a carDUvascular episode late.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
But economic realities and the physical limits of beaming internet connectivity from space could puncture the good vibes.—
Jeremy Bogaisky,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Having your skin punctured by a needle over and over hurts — and larger body art can require several sittings.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
To get an empty eggshell, pierce small holes on either end of a fresh, raw egg with a needle and gently blow the contents out into a bowl.—
Annabelle Canela,
Parents,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Wolf, Puss in Boots’s big villain, had piercing red eyes; Sinners’s villain Remmick (Jack O’Connell) has piercing red eyes.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Throughout the week, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, Joe Smith and Jeremy Rutherford were on site and picked the players’ brains about, well, each other.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Van Lith was picked in the first round by the Chicago Sky.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
But whether the trial's May 5 start date will stick is another story.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Moving Rafaela clears room for Anthony to stick in the lineup.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jab.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jab. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share