as in to stab
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
she speared a pea with her fork and angrily flung it
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spear
Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2025
In 1999, a fisherman in Malaysia was killed after being speared by a houndfish, according to the Courier-Post.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 30 June 2025
Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Add a few strawberries or watermelon cubes to the shaker, spear cherry tomatoes onto a skewer, or add a sprig of mint, basil or dill.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spear
Verb
Sturdy individual stakes are a good option, and to prevent spearing the bulb, they should be placed at planting time.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2025
In 1999, a fisherman in Malaysia was killed after being speared by a houndfish, according to the Courier-Post.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 30 June 2025
Noun
Uso hit Rollins with a Superkick and went for a spear, but Rollins reversed into a Pedigree for a two-count.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
Add a few strawberries or watermelon cubes to the shaker, spear cherry tomatoes onto a skewer, or add a sprig of mint, basil or dill.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spear
Verb
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Late last month, Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed on a train in North Carolina.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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Instead, 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack while riding a Charlotte, North Carolina, light rail train home from work.—
Peter D'Abrosca , Stepheny Price , Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Those athletes are the two most recent Olympic javelin champions, the first men to do so from Asian countries.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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The senior placed first at the Div. 1 championship in both javelin and discus.—
Brian Roach,
Boston Herald,
6 July 2025
Verb
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Polish officials said Russian drones pierced their airspace 19 times from late Tuesday night to Wednesday morning.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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The morning sun barely pierced the haze over Maitighar Mandala, yet the atmosphere was electric.—
Sonal Nain,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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At a handful of locations, these spikes extended out to nearly a meter, looking more like lances than anything needed to ward off a close-in attack.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 Aug. 2025
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Flame-retardant foams do little, and fire departments now favor high-pressure water lances or immersion pits.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
9 June 2025
Verb
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But all of that also was punctured in the last Super Bowl, when the Chiefs fell behind 34-0 before putting up some late points to make the final margin appear far more respectable than the game was.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 Sep. 2025
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Microneedling is a treatment that uses thin, vibrating needles to puncture your skin.—
Carley Millhone,
Health,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Daniel yells after jabbing his net into the bank.—
Wesley Bruer,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
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Trump on Wednesday took to Truth Social to jab Newsom with a couple of posts taunting the likely 2028 Democratic presidential contender.—
Amie Parnes,
The Hill,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That distinction can also determine if insurance plans get to pick the company that does the external review.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
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But instead, Tuchel picked a hungry, in-form squad and the players rewarded him by playing like this.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Another was stuck in the lockdown at the school.—
Katie Langford,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
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The phrase stuck and Wiegman used it throughout the Euros.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spear. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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