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View synonyms for jab

jab

[ jab ]

verb (used with object)

, jabbed, jab·bing.
  1. to poke, or thrust abruptly or sharply, as with the end or point of a stick or with the finger or elbow.
  2. to punch with a short, quick blow.
  3. Informal. to give (a person) a hypodermic injection, especially of a vaccine: I jab myself with insulin twice a day.

    Here’s a list of the countries you can visit if you haven’t been jabbed.

    I jab myself with insulin twice a day.



verb (used without object)

, jabbed, jab·bing.
  1. to poke or punch with a sharp, quick blow.

noun

  1. a poke with the end or point of something; a sharp, quick thrust.
  2. a short, quick punch.
  3. Informal. a hypodermic injection, especially of a vaccine:

    Have you gotten your flu jab yet?

  4. Informal. an abrupt insult or critical remark:

    That guy has no problem responding with a sarcastic jab.

  5. a sudden and unpleasant sensation or emotion: He knew she was happier now, but he still felt the slightest jab of guilt.

    I have jabs of pain, numbness, and tingling in my fingers.

    He knew she was happier now, but he still felt the slightest jab of guilt.

jab

/ dʒæb /

verb

  1. to poke or thrust sharply
  2. to strike with a quick short blow or blows


noun

  1. a sharp poke or stab
  2. a quick short blow, esp (in boxing) a straight punch with the leading hand
  3. informal.
    an injection

    polio jabs

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Derived Forms

  • ˈjabbingly, adverb
  • ˈjabbing, adjective

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Other Words From

  • jab·bing·ly adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of jab1

First recorded in 1825–35; variant, originally Scots, of job 2

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Word History and Origins

Origin of jab1

C19: originally Scottish variant of job

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Example Sentences

Maybe you think Botox is no big deal—a quick lunchtime jab to freshen up the face?

This could be construed as a jab at Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who is actively considering both.

A little global economics-based jab alongside the political insults.

This has been the animating spirit behind Lincoln, which was read as an implicit jab at Obama.

There was the jab at a blue-haired Liza Minnelli, claiming she was a man in drag masquerading as the Oscar winning legend.

I just got out iv th' back dure in time to escape a jab in th' spine fr'm a German that I niver see befure.

If I see another one, I'll jab him with one of these knitting needles.

I still have the reach, and I was able to protect myself by a frequent use of a lightning left jab.

When I said this, I turned to jab a claw at the other priests, using the motion to cover my flicking a coin grenade toward them.

I would make fur the doctor and draw my spear back to jab it clean through him, and Watty would grab my arm.

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