stabbing

[ stab-ing ]

adjective

1. penetrating; piercing:

   a stabbing pain.

2. emotionally wounding:

   a stabbing remark.

3. incisive or trenchant:

   a stabbing, satirical phrase.

Other Words From

• stabbing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of stabbing¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; stab + -ing ²

Example Sentences

French officials were already on edge after a series of apparently unconnected attacks, including the stabbing of police officers.

From The Daily Beast

Are you the kind of criminal who runs down the beach at night wielding a knife and stabbing every woman you pass?

From The Daily Beast

Forty-five minutes were estimated to have elapsed from the time the stabbing began until the killer left.

From The Daily Beast

He spoke of surviving a stabbing in 1958 when a woman attacked him at a book-signing.

From The Daily Beast

He drew a black-handled kitchen knife and began repeatedly stabbing both children.

From The Daily Beast

It was on an occasion of the death of a man in this city by stabbing, who begged loudly for confession.

From Project Gutenberg

The first true pang of grief shot through Ethel like a dart, stabbing and taking away her breath, "Where are they?"

From Project Gutenberg

But now they were piling upon him, striking and stabbing, a living mound which for the moment concealed the big fellow.

From Project Gutenberg

He was going in now though, almost crawling, his breath coming in stabbing gasps, his hands torn and bleeding.

From Project Gutenberg

Those who survived uttered their yell and plunged into the corners, stabbing with their knives.

From Project Gutenberg