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to jab

to jab

19 3.3
To poke quickly and sharply with a finger, hand, or object
  • verb
  • /dʒæb/
translation icon : pinchar
  • The boxer quickly jabbed at his opponent's face with precision.

She was armed with mints, her shoulder to jab him in the ribs, the whole thing.

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Examples

  • You jab with it when the wolf gets close.

  • When she inserts the IV, the nurse really jabs the needle in.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • So jab, cross, jab, cross, double jab, cross, double jab.

  • Stick and jab, stick and jab.

  • And then I jab at them.

  • Another soldier quickly jabs a button on a remote control unit.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • So he learned to run, dance around, dodge, chop, jab, and develop a good one-two.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Though he never missed an opportunity to jab one of his soft-person colleagues with his sharp wit.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Fighting the yoke, Priest jabs a finger at the fuel gauge.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Rozengurtle jabs a knife into a piece of meat and turns to Connor.

    Fiction book (1999)

Synonyms

to hit
vsto jab
1.0

To strike someone or something with force

is quicker and more sharply aimed than that general strike
to strike
vsto jab
553 2.4

To hit someone or something with force

is narrower and more focused on a quick sharp touch
to slap
vsto jab
492 1.0

Hit quickly with the flat part of the hand

is smaller in area and more like a quick pointed touch
to punch
vsto jab
455 1.4

To hit someone or something quickly with a closed fist

is less forceful and more about a quick pointed touch
to poke
vsto jab
251 1.5

Push quickly with a finger, stick, or other small object

is sharper and more pointed in speed and tip than that push
to smack
vsto jab
164 3.5

To hit someone or something with an open hand

is briefer and more sharply pointed than that forceful blow
swat
vsto jab
104 3.9

A quick hard hit with the hand or a flat object

is more precise and smaller in area than that quick blow
to pop
vsto jab
  • Informal
46 3.4

To hit someone or something quickly and lightly

is more sharply pointed and quicker than that light strike
swipe
vsto jab
39 3.9

A strong sweeping hit with the arm, hand, or paw

is a brief pointed action rather than a wide sweeping hit
to bludgeon
vsto jab
  • NSFW
23 8.8

To hit someone repeatedly with a heavy stick or club

is brief and pointed, not a repeated heavy assault
to clobber
vsto jab
  • NSFW
19 7.7

To hit someone or something very hard many times

is a single quick sharp action rather than repeated heavy blows
to poke at
vsto jab
9 2.5

Push gently at something or someone with a finger

is much sharper and quicker than that gentle prodding
to prod
vsto jab
4 3.7

To poke a person, animal, or object with a stick

is quicker and more sharply aimed than that gentle push
to plug
vsto jab
  • NSFW
4 7.7

To hit someone or something with a quick strong blow

is smaller and more sharply aimed rather than strongly damaging
to strike hard
vsto jab
3 3.7

Hit someone or something very hard

is smaller in force and more like a quick pointed touch
to wallop
vsto jab
  • Informal
2 7.3

To hit something or someone very hard

is much smaller in force and more like a quick poke
to bop
vsto jab
  • Informal
1 6.1

To hit someone quickly in a light, playful way

is more pointed and less playful, focused on quick sharp contact
to biff
vsto jab
  • Informal
1 9.8

To hit someone or something suddenly and hard, often with your fist

is quicker and focuses on a sharp point rather than fist force
to swack
vsto jab
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To hit someone or something hard

is typically smaller and quicker, without sustained force
to swig
vsto jab
  • Archaic
8.6

To hit something very hard with your fist or a bat

is more delicate and sharp rather than heavy and crushing

Antonyms

14 3.8

A gentle touch that shows affection

Phrasal Verbs

to jab at
  • Informal
9 6.4

To make a short teasing or critical comment about someone

Compounds

quick jab
  • Specialized
1 3.6

A fast, sharp punch in boxing that hits an opponent quickly

playful jab
  • Informal
1 4.6

A short teasing remark that makes someone laugh without hurting them

fist jab
  • Informal
4.0

A quick touch of two closed fists to greet or show support

friendly jab
  • Informal
4.8

A light, playful poke to show friendship or affection

How Sharp

to stab
  • NSFW
459 2.7
to jab
19 3.3
poke
4 2.5
to tap
174 1.0
to brush
133 1.6
to touch
1.0

Surface Forms

jab infinitive
jabbed past
jabbed past participle
jabbing present participle
jabs third person singular

Etymology

Jab probably comes from a short, sharp sound, like a quick 'jab' that fits a sudden poke. So, to jab is to poke or hit someone quickly and sharply.