: rain that freezes or partly freezes as it falls from the sky
Concerned that ice pellets—also known as sleet—were a larger hazard than previously thought, the Federal Aviation Administration in late 2005 adopted strict limits on planes taking off in such icy conditions.—
Susan Carey and Andy Pasztor
Susan Carey and Andy PasztorThe wind blew bitterly cold, and the boughs of the old tree crackled under falling sleet.—Harriet Jacobs
compare freezing rain, hail entry 1, snow entry 1
Harriet JacobsExamples of sleet in a Sentence
Noun
The snow turned to sleet and made driving very dangerous.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Yes, sleet can lead to dangerous conditions by creating slippery spots on roads where drivers could lose control of their vehicles, particularly on bridges, the NWS warns.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Those conditions — precipitation and cold temperatures — often combine to create sleet or freezing rain.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 10 Dec. 2025
Wisconsin road conditions NWS advises against driving during a storm, as snow, sleet or ice can create dangerous driving conditions.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleet
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Noun
Farther south, areas including Penobscot County and interior central Maine are dealing with a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain—producing 1 to 5 inches of snow and a light glaze of ice, especially along and north of the I-95 corridor.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Yes, sleet can lead to dangerous conditions by creating slippery spots on roads where drivers could lose control of their vehicles, particularly on bridges, the NWS warns.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Those conditions — precipitation and cold temperatures — often combine to create sleet or freezing rain.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 10 Dec. 2025
Wisconsin road conditions NWS advises against driving during a storm, as snow, sleet or ice can create dangerous driving conditions.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sleet
Cite this Entry
“Sleet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sleet. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
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