as in to stab
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
doctors used to lance infected sores, so that they could drain clean
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 lance
Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 11 Feb. 2025
Among the artifacts found at the site were 119 lances and spears, eight swords, five knives, three arrowheads, one axe, a bridle, fragments of a bugle, fragments of at least two oath rings and several bronze and iron objects that have not been identified yet, according to the press release.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 4 Dec. 2024
Caitie Kelly Wei Tchou Julia Halperin Tom Delavan Lane Nieset Gage Daughdrill, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023
In some ways, chiropractic was ripe for this type of treatment, just as dermatology was ripe for Dr. Pimple Popper to lance the field wide open for the disgust and pleasure of a massive audience.
—Lauren Larson, Men's Health, 25 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for lance
Noun
Around 100 spearheads, swords, lances, and chainmail were also found at the site as part of a 1,600-year-old weapon offering.
—Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 11 Feb. 2025
Among the artifacts found at the site were 119 lances and spears, eight swords, five knives, three arrowheads, one axe, a bridle, fragments of a bugle, fragments of at least two oath rings and several bronze and iron objects that have not been identified yet, according to the press release.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
There are also venison and pig trotter pies, each lanced with an enormous marrow bone.
—Caitie Kelly Wei Tchou Julia Halperin Tom Delavan Lane Nieset Gage Daughdrill, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2023
In some ways, chiropractic was ripe for this type of treatment, just as dermatology was ripe for Dr. Pimple Popper to lance the field wide open for the disgust and pleasure of a massive audience.
—Lauren Larson, Men's Health, 25 July 2023
See All Example Sentences for lance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lance
Noun
-
Ever since Donald Trump came down that golden escalator, the Republican Party has been remaking itself, putting larger-than-life personalities who can dominate the new media landscape at the tip of the spear.—
Kurt Bardella,
Boston Herald,
14 Mar. 2025
-
For instance, when your supermarket has fresh raspberries, why not add a spear of these berries and put them on top of your Blinker?—
Rowan Briggs,
The Mercury News,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The rookie hero, opening beer bottles with his eye socket, pulling out his own tooth with pliers, and being stabbed by a fan in Mexico wielding a pen, made news everywhere.—
Chuck Murr,
Forbes.com,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Five years later he was arrested by police after his boss, his boss’ wife and their two children were found stabbed to death in their home.—
Chris Lau and Yumi Asada,
CNN,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Catcher Patrick Bailey issued a word of warning: throwing javelin has almost nothing to do with throwing a baseball.—
Andrew Baggarly,
The Athletic,
12 Aug. 2024
-
With all of this going on in the house, why, oh why would Jesse Solomon (always both names) hurl himself at Lexi with the velocity of a gold medal javelin throw?—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The finch uses its sharp beak to peck at the skin of the seabird around the neck or back, puncturing blood vessels to access the blood.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
-
The documents identify several key senior policymakers behind the scenes while also puncturing the administration’s claims of a careful, deliberative review of USAID programming.—
Brett Murphy,
ProPublica,
3 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
That, for me, is the only piercing message of this whole thing.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2025
-
Stray bullets had shattered his own downstairs window; a second bullet pierced the house and lodged into an upstairs wall.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The video shows narwhals using their tusks to jab and stun the fish, which could indicate how narwhals interact with their prey.—
Monica Cull,
Discover Magazine,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Lawrence has been so successful for so long at helping entitled rich kids get admitted to Ivy League schools (specifically and exclusively Ivies) that one of them comes back to jab him with a fencing foil.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Chat about your picks during the tournament and see who your friends are picking.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Get tickets on StubHub Own your bracket pool with The Athletic Projecting the bracket | Best picks to win the title | Best bracket names No. 1 USC Trojans Strengths: The biggest plus is that USC has JuJu Watkins.—
The Athletic,
The Athletic,
22 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
University of California, Berkeley (UCB) researchers have now shown off the one-legged Salto bot mimic the way squirrels leap effortlessly between precarious branches and stick the landing on the very first attempt.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 Mar. 2025
-
If the new reboot is true to sticking true to the games, either character being the lead in the new movies would make perfect sense.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lance. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share