Meaning & use

squib

noun·Advanced

A short, witty piece of writing, or a small firework that burns with a hiss instead of exploding.

See it in a sentence

The newspaper ran a sharp little squib mocking the mayor's latest promise.

The firework turned out to be a squib and only fizzled weakly on the ground.

A note on using this word

In film and theater, a squib can also refer to a small explosive device used to simulate a gunshot wound.

Words with a similar meaning

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