1
as in stabbing
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
let's skewer our marshmallows on these sticks and start toasting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in ridiculing
to make (someone or something) the object of unkind laughter
the satirical comic strip gleefully skewers many of society's sacred cows
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 skewering
It's dubbed his Iron Spider-Man look because mechanical legs spring out from his back, capable of skewering any foe.
—
Chris McMullen, Space.com, 6 Mar. 2026
This rates substantial mention when it’s remembered that The Daily Show makes sport of skewering conservatives.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Adding another title to Rupert Murdoch ‘s media empire, the California Post will draw from and build on the venerable New York paper’s national coverage, which is known for its relentless and skewering approach to reporting and its facility with sensational or racy subject matter.
—Christopher Weber, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Comedian Nikki Glaser earned high marks last year for her inaugural run as host of the Golden Globe Awards — striking the right balance between skewering and celebrating Hollywood.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
The ensemble comedy garnered critical praise for its steady stream of zaniness and quickly gained a reputation for deftly skewering suburban life while still maintaining a general sweetness of tone.
—Will Harris, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
The claim set off a frenzy of online memes and commentators skewering the 63-year-old Ivy League graduate rolling up his sleeves and firing up the combine.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 21 Dec. 2025
As satire, Next to Heaven is unintelligible, as though someone is universalizing their own hangups and then skewering them for clout.
—Literary Hub, 17 Dec. 2025
The new episodes are extra acidic, skewering the industry while illustrating how much easier female solidarity is to sell than to practice.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
Chris McMullen, Space.com, 6 Mar. 2026
This rates substantial mention when it’s remembered that The Daily Show makes sport of skewering conservatives.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Adding another title to Rupert Murdoch ‘s media empire, the California Post will draw from and build on the venerable New York paper’s national coverage, which is known for its relentless and skewering approach to reporting and its facility with sensational or racy subject matter.
—Christopher Weber, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Comedian Nikki Glaser earned high marks last year for her inaugural run as host of the Golden Globe Awards — striking the right balance between skewering and celebrating Hollywood.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 7 Jan. 2026
The ensemble comedy garnered critical praise for its steady stream of zaniness and quickly gained a reputation for deftly skewering suburban life while still maintaining a general sweetness of tone.
—Will Harris, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
The claim set off a frenzy of online memes and commentators skewering the 63-year-old Ivy League graduate rolling up his sleeves and firing up the combine.
—Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 21 Dec. 2025
As satire, Next to Heaven is unintelligible, as though someone is universalizing their own hangups and then skewering them for clout.
—Literary Hub, 17 Dec. 2025
The new episodes are extra acidic, skewering the industry while illustrating how much easier female solidarity is to sell than to practice.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for skewering
Verb
-
After Jalloh started shooting, multiple students attacked him, with one of them stabbing him, two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation told NBC News.—
Tom Winter,
NBC news,
13 Mar. 2026
-
He was first convicted of manslaughter in 1974 for reportedly stabbing his stepfather to death in Sydney.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Other potential candidates, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gavin Newsom, have achieved fame by berating and ridiculing the other side.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Humiliating him would be like ridiculing the queen to her face.—
Roger Bennett,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
According to a February 2025 indictment, the five soldiers beat the man, dragging him across the floor, stepping on his body, breaking his ribs and puncturing a lung.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Conviction in the Gulf as a future global hub for AI infrastructure is facing its first stress test with Iranian strikes puncturing the region’s image as a haven for computing power.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Cruzeiro striker Kaio Jorge set the wind-up-merchant ball rolling in the 60th minute, celebrating the evening’s only goal by mocking Atletico’s mascot with a cockerel celebration.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
And Georgia tackle Monroe Freeling, who wasn’t even a first round pick in several mock drafts in January, is now routinely being projected for the top 12, with longtime analyst Dane Brugler mocking him 11th to Miami in his draft this week for the Athletic.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mourinho shot off down the touchline, fingers jabbing the air, hugging a ballboy in jubilation.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Though none of the celebrity moms in question have publicly spoken about the drama, earlier this week, Koma, whom has also produced several of Duff's songs in the past, shared a meme to his Instagram Story jabbing Tisdale French's piece in The Cut.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Loud Sound Reduction is another nice-to-have perk carried over from the AirPods Pro series, letting the headphones reduce the severity of sirens, construction and other ear-piercing sounds.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
When a medic advised him that the cut would need stitches, Green suggested piercing the bandage up with a stud — or, alternatively, throwing some Elmer’s glue on it.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Winds will lull overnight, Sunday into Monday, before picking back up again on Monday morning.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
15 Mar. 2026
-
But like Cornbread, his father hails from Mississippi and grew up picking cotton.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Apply a thin layer around the door frame to keep dust from sticking and building up there.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
-
One of those at Nottingham Forest’s Europa League defeat to Midtjylland last night seized the moment by turning to the camera and sticking his fingers in his ears (above).—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Skewering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/skewering. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
