snipe

1 of 2

noun

plural snipes
1
or plural snipe : any of various usually slender-billed birds of the sandpiper family
especially : any of several game birds (especially genus Gallinago) especially of marshy areas
2
: a contemptible person

snipe

2 of 2

verb

sniped; sniping

intransitive verb

1
: to shoot at exposed individuals (as of an enemy's forces) from a usually concealed point of vantage
2
: to aim a carping or snide attack
sniper noun

Examples of snipe in a Sentence

Verb Enemy fighters sniped at them from vacant buildings. One of the senators sniped, “What does he think this is, a monarchy?”.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Arctic terns make even longer journeys of 10,000 miles and more from the Arctic Circle to Antarctica, while great snipes fly over food-poor deserts and seas, sometimes covering 4,200 miles in four days without stopping. Elizabeth Landau, Quanta Magazine, 19 May 2025 That festive atmosphere erupted when forward Will Lockwood converted a 2-on-1 rush with a top-shelf snipe that had fans leaping from their seats. Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 8 May 2025
Verb
Willy Robinson sniped six goals, shattering a program record for career tallies (284 overall) as No. 5 Scituate (15-5) punched its ticket to the next round with a 17-8 win over No. 12 Dover-Sherborn. Danny Ventura, Boston Herald, 3 June 2025 Bristol’s political scene has been marked by social media sniping on both sides, and Facebook exchanges included attacks against both candidates. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for snipe

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse snīpa snipe; akin to Old High German snepfa snipe

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of snipe was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Snipe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snipe. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

snipe

1 of 2 noun
plural snipes or snipe
: any of several birds that have a long slender bill, live mostly in marshy areas, and are related to the sandpipers

snipe

2 of 2 verb
sniped; sniping
1
: to shoot at exposed individuals of an enemy's forces from a usually concealed point
2
: to attack with unfair or cutting remarks
sniper noun

More from Merriam-Webster on snipe

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