squib
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Polling expert John Curtice told the BBC that Farage had been hoping for a "very substantial political circus" but may end up with a "relatively damp squib" if no one challenges him properly.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
But the much-anticipated showdown between two Heisman-candidate quarterbacks and national championship-quality teams had been a damp squib over the first two quarters.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2025
Kicking under the new format feels more like “shanking” a kickoff than doing a squib kick, as Dicker put it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2024
She described the Edinburgh Reforms as a "damp squib", due to "the lack of progress or economic impact."
From BBC ● Dec. 8, 2023
When the old man, helped by Bilbo and some dwarves, had finished unloading, Bilbo gave a few pennies away; but not a single squib or cracker was forthcoming, to the disappointment of the onlookers.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Getting scant response beyond a few scattered news squibs, the CDC dropped the abuse issue entirely in its follow-up 2023 report.
From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2023
It was, instead, the dampest of damp squibs, published after quite the bust-up behind closed doors.
From BBC ● May 3, 2023
However, digging today into The Seattle Times’ online archive, I find that social squibs often help reveal the story of a vintage edifice.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 5, 2019
“He didn’t really even skim... He could read headlines and articles about himself, or at least headlines on articles about himself, and the gossip squibs on the New York Post’s Page Six.”
From The Guardian ● Jan. 7, 2018
But there was also a generous distribution of squibs, crackers, backarappers, sparklers, torches, dwarf-candles, elf-fountains, goblin-barkers and thunder-claps.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Harvey jammed Bryson Stott, who squibbed a grounder to the left side.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 14, 2022
Bellinger hit a grounder that squibbed past Beltre at third base.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 13, 2018
Pinch hitter Jorge Orta squibbed a grounder towards first; Cardinals first baseman Jack Clark charged in and tossed the ball to reliever Todd Worrell, who ran to cover the bag.
From Time ● Oct. 14, 2014
The ball squibbed along the ground and came to rest at the 15-yard line.
From New York Times ● Dec. 30, 2013
Total result of one of these firework displays: several thousand rounds of ammunition squibbed off, hundreds of star shells wasted, and no casualties.
From Bullets & Billets by Bruce Bairnsfather
But in the aftermath, many questioned why Buffalo sent its kickoff into the end zone rather than squibbing it to force a return and take critical seconds off the clock.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026
After the Sun Devils nearly broke another return, USC opted to go with its other kicking option, Michael Brown, who resolved to simply squibbing kickoffs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2019
Earlier this week, special teams coach John Baxter noted that USC struggled with squibbing kicks and thus would avoid that strategy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2019
The brawny Fielder had the only hit between them in the ninth, squibbing an infield single up the middle.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 5, 2011
And there is a cabinet minister; well, we know what he is; I have been squibbing him for these two years, and now that I meet him I feel like a snob.
From Endymion by Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
