sleeper cell
noun
: a terrorist cell whose members work under cover in an area until sent into action
Examples of sleeper cell in a Sentence
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The Hill’s Miriam Waldvogel wrote a helpful explainer on sleeper cell threats.
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Cate Martel, The Hill, 26 June 2025
Season 2 tapped into Cold War paranoia, with Lamb and his team unearthing a Russian sleeper cell operation that exposed some of MI5’s deepest secrets.
—Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
America's intense fear of terrorism after the 9/11 attacks landed hard on the shoulders of Hamid Hayat, whose California upbringing was shattered when he was accused of being part of a terrorist sleeper cell.
—Fifth & Mission Podcast, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Mar. 2022
Authorities never found a terrorist sleeper cell in Lodi.
—Deepa Fernandes, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for sleeper cell
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Cate Martel, The Hill, 26 June 2025
Season 2 tapped into Cold War paranoia, with Lamb and his team unearthing a Russian sleeper cell operation that exposed some of MI5’s deepest secrets.
—Amy Kaufman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
America's intense fear of terrorism after the 9/11 attacks landed hard on the shoulders of Hamid Hayat, whose California upbringing was shattered when he was accused of being part of a terrorist sleeper cell.
—Fifth & Mission Podcast, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Mar. 2022
Authorities never found a terrorist sleeper cell in Lodi.
—Deepa Fernandes, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for sleeper cell
Cite this Entry
“Sleeper cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleeper%20cell. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
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