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
Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
The Lac du Flambeau tribe gets its name from French explorers who observed tribal harvesters spearing at night with the use of torches.
—Frank Vaisvilas, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024
Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Wrap spears of asparagus in slices of prosciutto for a delicious side or party appetizer.
—Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spear 
Verb
As people came close a branch would drop and spear the person in the stomach.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
The Lac du Flambeau tribe gets its name from French explorers who observed tribal harvesters spearing at night with the use of torches.
—Frank Vaisvilas, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
Garnish with a pickle spear and enjoy the bold, tangy twist.
—Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Wrap spears of asparagus in slices of prosciutto for a delicious side or party appetizer.
—Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for spear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spear
Verb
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One of the guards was stabbed 12 times, and the other guard was stabbed in the back and the head.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2025
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Last November, while Hart was working, a man stabbed and killed her fiancé, Antonio Young, in the lobby of the Extended Stay America hotel on Gateway Oaks Drive in South Natomas.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacramento Bee,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Instead, General Livius duels Commodus with javelins for the fate of Rome in a makeshift arena made of centurion shields.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
22 Nov. 2024
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Exceptions from that are pole vault and javelin because athletes are moving with so much force that the spike needs to penetrate the surface to avoid injury.—
Liam Tharme,
The Athletic,
11 Aug. 2024
Verb
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Deputies found Campitelli, a popular piercing artist, dead in her Merritt Island apartment on May 15, 2021, after Keller called 911 saying she had been shot, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.—
KC Baker,
People.com,
4 Feb. 2025
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His face is a death mask: gaunt and soiled, teeth pebbly, eyes dilated but piercing in their last hint of blued luminescence.—
Matt Thompson,
SPIN,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
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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
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Eastwood put on his armor and galloped down a course on Tinkerbell, hitting a practice target with a lance at Hemphill's property.—
Claire Osborn,
Austin American-Statesman,
12 Mar. 2024
Verb
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Internal cryosurgery requires a small cut or puncture for the cryosurgery probe, reducing the risk of pain, bleeding, and infection.—
Archana Sharma,
Verywell Health,
24 Jan. 2025
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In some ways, saber teeth represent an evolutionary pinnacle, the optimal design for a canine tooth to puncture prey, says Rayfield.—
Jonathan Lambert,
NPR,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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During his meeting with L.A. officials, Trump criticized California’s wildfire response, jabbing at Democrats and blaming the massive infernos that have destroyed swaths of the state in recent years on a lack of forest management and water mismanagement.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Jan. 2025
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Before putting the pruning shears in, Charles slightly jabbed them towards Stewart, and the musician pretended to flinch, causing both of them to laugh.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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And the Kings get to remain competitive while restocking their draft picks to bet against other teams between now and 2031.—
Zach Harper,
The Athletic,
3 Feb. 2025
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And this week on Face the Nation: President Trump picks a tariff fight with America's top trade partners, federal workers brace for another tumultuous week, and the fallout continues from Mr. Trump blaming diversity policies for the midair collision of an Army Black Hawk and a passenger jet.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Many of these actions won’t stick legally or prove popular with voters.—
Nick Gillespie,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Feb. 2025
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The tracking the hip part is really important, because Saquon can stick his foot in the ground and cut back.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
2 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near spear
Cite this Entry
“Spear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spear. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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