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View synonyms for stab

stab

1

[stab]

verb (used with object)

stabbed, stabbing 
  1. to pierce or wound with or as if with a pointed weapon.

    She stabbed a piece of chicken with her fork.

  2. to thrust, plunge, or jab (a knife, pointed weapon, or the like) into something.

    He stabbed the knife into the man's chest.

  3. to penetrate sharply or painfully.

    Their misery stabbed his conscience.

  4. to make a piercing, thrusting, or pointing motion at or in.

    He stabbed me in the chest with his finger.

    The speaker stabbed the air in anger.



verb (used without object)

stabbed, stabbing 
  1. to thrust with or as if with a knife or other pointed weapon.

    to stab at an attacker.

  2. to deliver a wound, as with a pointed weapon.

noun

  1. the act of stabbing.

  2. a thrust or blow with, or as if with, a pointed weapon.

  3. an attempt; try;

    Make a stab at an answer before giving up.

  4. a wound made by stabbing.

  5. a sudden, brief, and usually painful, sensation.

    He felt a stab of pain in his foot.

    A stab of pity ran through her.

stab.

2

abbreviation

  1. stabilization.

  2. stabilizer.

  3. stable.

stab

/ stæb /

verb

  1. (tr) to pierce or injure with a sharp pointed instrument

  2. (tr) (of a sharp pointed instrument) to pierce or wound

    the knife stabbed her hand

  3. to make a thrust (at); jab

    he stabbed at the doorway

  4. (tr) to inflict with a sharp pain

    1. (verb) to do damage to the reputation of (a person, esp a friend) in a surreptitious way

    2. (noun) a treacherous action or remark that causes the downfall of or injury to a person

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act or an instance of stabbing

  2. an injury or rift made by stabbing

  3. a sudden sensation, esp an unpleasant one

    a stab of pity

  4. informal,  an attempt (esp in the phrase make a stab at )

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • restab verb
  • unstabbed adjective
  • stabber noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of stab1

First recorded in 1435–45 for the noun, and in 1525–35 for the verb; Middle English ( Scots ) noun stab, stabbe, stappe, of uncertain origin; compare Scots stob “needle, large needle”; verb from the noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of stab1

C14: from stabbe stab wound; probably related to Middle English stob stick
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. stab (someone) in the back, to do harm to (someone), especially to a friend or to a person who is unsuspecting or in a defenseless position.

  2. a stab in the back, an act of treachery.

More idioms and phrases containing stab

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Greater Manchester Police and counter terrorism officers investigating the attack have said Al-Shamie left the synagogue on foot and returned in a car, driving at and then stabbing worshippers.

From BBC

Mr Cravitz died after an attacker rammed a car into and stabbed worshippers gathering for a service to mark Yom Kippur – the holiest day of the Jewish calendar – at Heaton Park Synagogue.

From BBC

Former USC quarterback and current Fox NFL analyst Mark Sanchez was stabbed early Saturday morning and is being treated in an Indianapolis hospital.

Mr Daulby, 53, and Mr Cravitz, 66, died in the attack after the attacker drove a car at members of the public before stabbing people on Thursday morning.

From BBC

Attacker Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, drove a car at the building and stabbed one man to death before armed police shot him dead.

From BBC

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Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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sta.Stabat Mater