harpoon

noun
UK: /hɑːˈpuːn/
US: /hɑːrˈpuːn/

  1. A long spear with a rope attached, used for hunting large fish or whales.

    1. The sailor held the harpoon tightly.
    2. The whaler expertly threw the harpoon, striking the whale with precision.

Synonyms

attack spear criticize dart lance
harpoon transitive-verb

  1. To hunt or catch a whale or large fish with a harpoon.

    1. They harpoon whales for their oil.
    2. The fishermen hope to harpoon a marlin during the fishing tournament.

  2. To attack or criticize someone forcefully.

    1. She tried to harpoon his reputation.
    2. The journalist attempted to harpoon the politician with pointed questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "harpoon" is /hɑːˈpuːn/ in British English and /hɑːrˈpuːn/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "harpoon": attack, spear, criticize, dart, lance.

Example usage of "harpoon": "The sailor held the harpoon tightly.". More examples on the page.