Jab

A sudden, quick thrust or poke, often with a pointed object, such as a finger, needle, or weapon. It can also describe a sharp, abrupt remark or action. The word often implies a degree of suddenness and intention, even if the aim is not to cause significant harm. Beyond the physical act, a 'jab' can refer to a metaphorical poke, aimed at a person's feelings, ideas, or reputation, intending to provoke a reaction. It’s a versatile term capturing both physical and verbal actions with a sharp, immediate impact.

Jab meaning with examples

• The boxer delivered a quick jab to his opponent's face, momentarily stunning him. He then followed up with a flurry of punches. The doctor administered the flu vaccine with a swift jab of the needle in her arm. During the disagreement, he made a quick jab with his foot, almost knocking the lamp off.
• She felt a sudden, sharp jab of pain in her shoulder, making her realize she had strained it. The sudden jab of cold water from the leaky pipe shocked the plumber when he went into the crawl space. The cat gave a quick jab with its paw. It then ran under the bed.
• The comedian's witty jab at the politician drew laughter from the audience and caused an uproar in social media. The editor's comment was more of a jab at the writer's careless formatting than useful feedback. The news program made a clever jab at the rival station on the rival station's recent programming.
• With a jab of the remote control, he changed the channel. The child gave a jab with the crayons causing a hole in the drawing. After he told the boss off he got a jab from the boss, but thankfully he still had his job. The salesman made a jab at the competition to attract clients.
• The critic’s review contained several well-aimed jabs at the author's clumsy prose and overly simple plot. The child had to be told no jabs with the fork. The teacher kept giving the children jabs to keep them at bay.