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
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Recent Examples of lance
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
The thermal lance Caan uses to penetrate the safe was Santucci’s own burning bar.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
If unresolved in two more weeks, lancing the lesion, doing a punch biopsy, or removing it might end up needing to be done.
—Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lance
Noun
The nest hoards of bearded vultures in southern Spain, where the species is extinct, were found to harbor such human artifacts as a crossbow bolt, a slingshot, a wooden lance, and a shoe with an approximate age of 675 years.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
The thermal lance Caan uses to penetrate the safe was Santucci’s own burning bar.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Sirens echoed in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with the nighttime skies over the latter lighted with bursts of yellow as missiles from Israel’s Arrow defense system lanced up to intercept Iranian ballistic missiles.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
If unresolved in two more weeks, lancing the lesion, doing a punch biopsy, or removing it might end up needing to be done.
—Dr. John De Jong, Boston Herald, 25 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for lance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lance
Noun
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Serve with chips and pickle spears for an easy and filling meal.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
7 Feb. 2026
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Reigns would eventually hit the spear on Gunther and toss him over the ropes for the win.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The non-profit also found a teenager who stabbed people outside a mosque in Turkey appeared to have been influenced by nihilistic subcultures.—
Curt Devine,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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The 22-year-old daughter of Minnesota GOP gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson was allegedly stabbed to death by her husband Saturday in what police said was an apparent botched murder-suicide.—
Bradford Betz,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Let me be run through with the wooden javelin of truth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
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The Tofinu took refuge in the lagoons along the Bight of Benin, a core area of the slave trade, venturing forth in canoes with harpoons, javelins, and swords to fight off raiders from powerful nearby kingdoms.—
Laurent Dubois,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The episode has punctured Preckwinkle’s reputation for managerial skill — a primary reason this page has endorsed her in previous elections despite some disagreements with other aspects of her record.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
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One of the bullets struck Boyd in the abdomen, traveled through his body, and ultimately punctured one of his lungs.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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From another ward not too far away, the piercing screams of a patient are audible.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
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The dress was a reference to Thierry Mugler’s bold and iconic spring couture 1998 runway show, in which Erica Vanbriel modeled the original nipple piercing dress.—
Alexandra Hildreth,
Vogue,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Where Volkanovski is clearly better is at distance, using his technique to kick at Lopes and jab him.—
Brett Appley,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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Donalds also used the opportunity to jab at Democratic gubernatorial rivals David Jolly and, particularly, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When Warren went to pick her up at her parents' house, her brothers, Kevin, Reggie and Wayne, surrounded him.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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These cities were picked for their real estate, ideal locations and unique activities.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The crucial employment snapshot is slightly delayed because of the brief government shutdown and will show whether the trajectory improved for the US labor market, which has been stuck in a low-hire and low-fire lull.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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The littlest boy pulled out a strikingly large gun and stuck it in my face.—
Michael Powell,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lance. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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