sharpshooter
noun
sharp·shoot·er
ˈshärp-ˌshü-tər 
plural sharpshooters
1
: a person who is highly skilled in shooting a weapon (such as a rifle) at a mark or target
a police sharpshooter
Determined to prevent any attempt on Lincoln's life, General Winfield Scott had placed sharpshooters on the roofs of buildings along the avenue …—
David Herbert Donald
David Herbert Donald2
sports
: a consistently accurate shooter (as in basketball)
A 6' 9" sharpshooter who several NBA scouts predict will be a first-round pick …—Tim Crothers
Tim Crothers3
: any of various large leafhoppers that have powerful hind legs with spines on the tibia
The sharpshooter uses a needlelike mouthpart to suck fluids from trees and plants. As it goes from one to the next, it spreads diseases that can wipe out orange groves and other crops.—Carl Zimmer
Carl ZimmerIn Temecula, disease-carrying sharpshooters have turned some vineyards into wastelands.—Steve Schmidt
Steve SchmidtExamples of sharpshooter in a Sentence
the police stationed sharpshooters on rooftops all along the route of the presidential motorcade
Recent Examples on the Web
The Dallas Mavericks acquired the sharpshooter in a big deal a season ago, adding Thompson to a roster that once included Luka Doncic.
—Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
At 58, the former NBA sharpshooter is stepping into ESPN’s top booth after only two seasons of calling games, while Burke has been one of the network’s most reliable voices across NBA coverage for over twenty years.
—Jenn Nelson, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
This is a pivotal year in commemoration for the Sky, who retired the jersey of long-time sharpshooter Allie Quigley last month.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Golden State already lost All-Star Kayla Thornton to a season-ending knee injury and did not have sharpshooter Cecilia Zandalasini for Thursday’s road win over the Washington Mystics.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2025
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Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
At 58, the former NBA sharpshooter is stepping into ESPN’s top booth after only two seasons of calling games, while Burke has been one of the network’s most reliable voices across NBA coverage for over twenty years.
—Jenn Nelson, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
This is a pivotal year in commemoration for the Sky, who retired the jersey of long-time sharpshooter Allie Quigley last month.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Golden State already lost All-Star Kayla Thornton to a season-ending knee injury and did not have sharpshooter Cecilia Zandalasini for Thursday’s road win over the Washington Mystics.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sharpshooter
Cite this Entry
“Sharpshooter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sharpshooter. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sharpshooter
noun
sharp·shoot·er
ˈshärp-ˌshüt-ər
: one skilled in shooting : a good marksman
sharpshooting
noun
-ˌshüt-iŋ
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