spearing

verb

present participle of spear
as in stabbing
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

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 spearing Breakker went on to complete the match by spearing and pinning CM Punk. — Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025 Jafaar al-Samra had just sold an octopus, minutes after spearing it while snorkeling. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 23 June 2026 As settlers moved into the area and took tribal lands near the river for farming, the Bindjareb resorted to taking the settlers’ crops and spearing their cattle for food. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026 Traditional Japanese yakitori calls for spearing chicken seasoned with salt or a soy basting sauce onto bamboo skewers and grilling them over charcoal. — Saveur Editors, Saveur, 22 Jan. 2026 Roupp helped his own cause by making a nifty play to turn two in the sixth, spearing a comebacker behind his back before firing to shortstop Willy Adames to kick-start a 1-6-3 double play. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 25 June 2026 Mikel Arteta reflected on how his group lived the period between points inexplicably frittered away at Wolves and confidently spearing the heart of their rivals four days later. — Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026 That album cut, originally featured on OK Computer, became a hit seemingly out of nowhere earlier this year after spearing like wildfire on TikTok. — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spearing
  1. stabbing
  2. puncturing
  3. jabbing
  4. piercing
  5. picking
  6. sticking
Verb
  • The film centers on a New York murder trial where a teenage boy is accused of stabbing his abusive dad and a jury has the kid's fate in their hands.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • In one ⁠instance, the suspect is accused ​of personally taking part in the killing by stabbing a victim in the chest with a knife, the prosecutors said.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 1 July 2026
Definition of stabbing
Verb
  • On June 3, Walden went to the hospital, where a CT scan revealed the metal bristle had become lodged in his bowel and had begun puncturing his intestine.
    — Nick Lunemann, CBS News, 30 June 2026
  • Where there’s normally carpet or hardwood floors, there are rocks, puncturing bare feet with each step.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 25 June 2026
Definition of puncturing
Verb
  • The show ushered in a new era of winking, elbow-jabbing meta-musicals.
    — Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 26 June 2026
  • The audience groaned, while Vergara and Mel B screamed for Strange to stop jabbing at his partner through the box.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 17 June 2026
Definition of jabbing
Verb
  • Granite cliffs piercing the sea and the sky are Acadia National Park’s most recognizable feature.
    — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
  • Her flat, piercing groundstrokes and booming serve are perfect for grass, and defending champion Świątek will need to calm down her serving roller coaster to stay in touch.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of piercing
Verb
  • Bryce Eldridge handled the rest, picking Schmitt’s throw out of the dirt to complete the double play.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
  • The studio showed strong instincts when picking creative partners on the horror side, too.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 2 July 2026
Definition of picking
Verb
  • Perrineau is weary, if not quite as wrecked as the car sticking halfway out of the far wall.
    — Josh Wigler, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026
  • The banana leaf acts as a protective barrier, preventing the salmon from sticking or drying out during the slow roast.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of sticking

Browse Nearby Words

spearheads
spearing
spearman
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Cite this Entry

“Spearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spearing. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on spearing

Nglish: Translation of spearing for Spanish Speakers

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