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
Police K-9s on the ground, undercover officers, SWAT teams, drones, and sharpshooters are typically part of the LAPD's security posture for the Oscars, according to law enforcement sources.
—Alex Stone, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
The result is a swaggy sharpshooter who, to those who weren’t in the gym for a year watching scout team, came out of nowhere.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
To heighten security, sharpshooters were placed on rooftops, attendees passed through metal detectors, nearby businesses were closed, and the Shubert complex’s two lowest underground parking levels were blocked off due to the risk of car bombs.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2026
And senior sharpshooter Liana Valdez, a Western Nebraska commit who is a four-year starter like Hearty, can make teams pay from beyond the arc.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sharpshooter
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Alex Stone, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2026
The result is a swaggy sharpshooter who, to those who weren’t in the gym for a year watching scout team, came out of nowhere.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
To heighten security, sharpshooters were placed on rooftops, attendees passed through metal detectors, nearby businesses were closed, and the Shubert complex’s two lowest underground parking levels were blocked off due to the risk of car bombs.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2026
And senior sharpshooter Liana Valdez, a Western Nebraska commit who is a four-year starter like Hearty, can make teams pay from beyond the arc.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sharpshooter
Cite this Entry
“Sharpshooter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sharpshooter. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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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