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
Fudd was 0-for-3 from the field in eight first-half minutes, but the Huskies’ sharpshooter found her rhythm immediately in the third quarter.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
In April 2024, the CIC advocated using helicopters flying low with sharpshooters to take out the deer.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
On the first night, McTeigue was stunned to see sharpshooters posted atop the buildings for security as the 500 masked extras walked down the street towards the film’s armored tanks.
—Matthew Huff, IndieWire, 17 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for sharpshooter
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Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
In April 2024, the CIC advocated using helicopters flying low with sharpshooters to take out the deer.
—Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 18 Mar. 2026
On the first night, McTeigue was stunned to see sharpshooters posted atop the buildings for security as the 500 masked extras walked down the street towards the film’s armored tanks.
—Matthew Huff, IndieWire, 17 Mar. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for sharpshooter
Cite this Entry
“Sharpshooter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sharpshooter. Accessed 27 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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