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
In Isaac McKneely, Louisville basketball has one of the country's most prolific sharpshooters.
—Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
Tully’s sharpshooter tries to take a shot at Nolan, but Elsbeth sees the little red laser dot on his forehead and pushes him out of the way.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
The Heat let free agent sharpshooter Duncan Robinson depart for the Detroit Pistons in a sign-and-trade deal, bringing back Simone Fontecchio and a trade exception.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
The Houston rapper and Dallas Mavericks sharpshooter publicly launched their relationship with a red carpet debut at the Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala in July.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sharpshooter
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Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
Tully’s sharpshooter tries to take a shot at Nolan, but Elsbeth sees the little red laser dot on his forehead and pushes him out of the way.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
The Heat let free agent sharpshooter Duncan Robinson depart for the Detroit Pistons in a sign-and-trade deal, bringing back Simone Fontecchio and a trade exception.
—Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025
The Houston rapper and Dallas Mavericks sharpshooter publicly launched their relationship with a red carpet debut at the Pete & Thomas Foundation Gala in July.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 3 Oct. 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 25 Oct. 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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