jawbone

1 of 2

noun

jaw·​bone ˈjȯ-ˌbōn How to pronounce jawbone (audio)
: jaw sense 1a
especially : mandible

jawbone

2 of 2

verb

jawboned; jawboning; jawbones

transitive verb

: to speak forcefully and persuasively to
jawboned them into accepting the deal

intransitive verb

: to talk especially forcefully and persuasively
jawboning about the tax cuts

Examples of jawbone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
The phone zooms in to show the details of the shoe, of the jawbone missing a tooth. — ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026 The skull and a mandible — a jawbone — were the only remains recovered. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
Well, that's what this editorial is about, jawboning. — ABC News, 21 Sep. 2025 The conference circuit’s jawboning strategy — that crypto price will obey the pulpit — appears to have stopped applying. — Isabelle Lee, Bloomberg, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for jawbone

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1965, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of jawbone was in the 15th century

Rhymes for jawbone

See All Rhymes for jawbone

Browse Nearby Words

jaw bit
jawbone
jawboning
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Jawbone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jawbone. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

jawbone

noun
jaw·​bone
ˈjȯ-ˈbōn, 
-ˌbōn
: one of the bones of an animal's jaw
especially : mandible sense 1a

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on jawbone

Nglish: Translation of jawbone for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about jawbone

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