harpoon 1 of 2

verb

Definition of harpoonnext
as in to stab
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object she deftly harpooned a shrimp with her skewer and held it over the fire

Synonyms & Similar Words

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harpoon

2 of 2

noun

as in trident

Related Words

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 harpoon
Verb
With spotters overlooking the fjords and communicating from land, fishers set fires in canoes to lure tuna close enough to harpoon. — Torben Rick, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026 The chaos allows a Triarchy ship to harpoon Jace's dragon, Vermax, dragging the flailing creature down into the ocean, along with Rhaenyra's heir. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 22 June 2026
Noun
Jason then comes up with an elaborate plan to capture one of the creatures using a harpoon. — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026 Shop owner John Sylvia is sticking to his guns, or antique whaling harpoon cannons. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for harpoon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harpoon
  1. stab
  2. trident
  3. pierce
  4. spear
  5. puncture
  6. halberd
  7. jab
  8. lance
Verb
  • For Crystal, this occurred at the end of 2025, his annus horribilis, when Reiner and wife Michelle were found stabbed to death at their Brentwood home.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The teen accused of fatally stabbing a homeless Roseville woman faced a judge and the woman’s family Tuesday during his first court appearance in the slaying.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of stab
Noun
  • Begin at the Fountain of Neptune, whose trident inspired the emblem Mario Maserati designed for the company, first used in 1926.
    — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Hermann and Hargitay were Zeus and Hera, naturally, while their kids appeared to be Poseidon (with the trident), Ares and Apollo.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of trident
Verb
  • The bullet pierced the rear passenger window of Irvine’s car, striking him in the right shoulder and causing his death.
    — Kelsie Cairns , Maria Paronich, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • No wonder some of the film’s most piercing moments are on the periphery.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of pierce
Noun
  • The authors said that Shanidar A’s wound may be the earliest example of an ancient human relative killed with a wooden spear.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Remnants of a wooden spear weren’t found near the Neanderthal’s remains, which is understandable since the material often decomposes so quickly.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of spear
Verb
  • Like Trouble, Zukenee can lull you into a groove, then puncture that false sense of security with an abrupt shift in tone.
    — Narsimha Gour Chintaluri, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The sullen tribute to Payne settled the room into a cool near-silence, punctured by quiet gasps and muffled crying.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of puncture
Noun
  • Those Swiss guards would take that halberd and just take you down.
    — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
  • During different events, the guards will add white gloves, a black helmet and/or the halberd.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
Definition of halberd
Verb
  • The film’s pick-me jabs at humor are frankly, flatly unfunny and grating, twisting the film at times into a perverse, almost self-aware treatise on tweeness.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Rainbow continued to jab the secretary of health as his primary opposition throughout the parody of the Frank Loesser song.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of jab
Noun
  • In the end, director Duong, recognizing Aunt Hanh’s residual indignation, lances that boil.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Additionally, objects of cultural patrimony such as five pairs of moccasins, one coupstick, one Cheyenne cradle board and one lance were returned in the ceremony.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of lance

Browse Nearby Words

harp (on)
harpoon
harpooned
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Cite this Entry

“Harpoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harpoon. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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