stab

To push a sharp object into someone’s body and hurt them.

• Someone stabbed him outside the station.
• She was stabbed with a knife.
• Police arrested the man who had stabbed her.

How to use it: stab someone with something (The attacker stabbed him with a knife.); stab someone in the + body part (He was stabbed in the arm.)

Similar words: knife, pierce

Common phrases: stab someone, stab with something, stab someone repeatedly, stab someone twice

To make quick, rough movements toward something with the end of a pointed object.

• He stabbed at the button with his finger.
• She stabbed at the ground with a stick.
• His finger stabbed the air as he argued.

How to use it: stab at something with something (He stabbed at the screen with one finger.)

Similar words: jab, poke, thrust

Common phrases: stab at something, stab a button

An attempt to do something, often without knowing whether you can succeed.

• Let me take a stab at it.
• She had a stab at solving the puzzle.
• His first stab at a novel was surprisingly good.

How to use it: a stab at something/doing something (I took a stab at repairing the radio.)

Similar words: try, attempt

Common phrases: take a stab, stab at something, have a stab

An act of pushing a sharp object into someone to hurt them.

• The stab left a deep wound.
• He narrowly avoided a stab to the chest.
• The attacker delivered several stabs with a knife.

Similar words: thrust

Common phrases: a knife stab, stab wound, stab to something

A short, sudden group of musical notes played together for a strong effect.

• A horn stab opens the song.
• The producer added sharp synth stabs.
• Each brass stab lands just before the beat.

Common phrases: horn stab, brass stab, synth stab