1
: a concealed or unexpected difficulty or obstacle
2
a
: an irregularity that suggests the result of tearing
especially
: a pulled thread in fabric
a snag in her stocking
b
: a jagged tear made by or as if by catching on a snag
3
: a rough sharp or jagged projecting part : protuberance: such as
a
: a projecting tooth
also
: a stump of a tooth
b
: one of the secondary branches of an antler
4
a
: a standing dead tree
b
: a tree or branch embedded in a lake or stream bed and constituting a hazard to navigation
snagged; snagging
1
a
: to catch and usually damage on or as if on a snag
b
: to halt or impede as if by catching on a snag
2
: to catch or obtain usually by quick action or good fortune
3
: to hew, trim, or cut roughly or jaggedly
4
: to clear (something, such as a river) of snags
Examples of snag in a Sentence
Noun
I caught my sleeve on a snag and tore it.
My sweater has a snag where I caught it on a nail.
Verb
I snagged my favorite sweater on a nail.
The shortstop snagged the grounder.
The police snagged the suspect as he was trying to run away.
I managed to snag the information I needed from the Internet.
Can I snag a ride from you?
Recent Examples on the Web
Robin Romm, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
Boeing’s efforts to keep up kept hitting development snags including its first uncrewed test flight, which missed its rendezvous with the space station entirely in 2019.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Nahida Bristy’s remains were found Sunday in a garbage bag discovered by a kayaker whose fishing line got snagged, said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.
—Mike Schneider, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for snag
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Noun
The Calambokidis plan quickly hit some snags.
—Robin Romm, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
Boeing’s efforts to keep up kept hitting development snags including its first uncrewed test flight, which missed its rendezvous with the space station entirely in 2019.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Verb
Her remains were found by two kayakers who were fishing after one of their lines snagged a bag in mangroves near the interstate.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Nahida Bristy’s remains were found Sunday in a garbage bag discovered by a kayaker whose fishing line got snagged, said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister.
—Mike Schneider, Sun Sentinel, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for snag
Cite this Entry
“Snag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snag. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
snag
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a tree or branch when stuck underwater and not visible from the surface
b
: a standing dead tree
2
: an uneven or broken part sticking out from a smooth surface
caught my sweater on a snag
3
: a concealed or unexpected difficulty
our plans hit a snag
snag
2 of 2 verb
snagged; snagging
: to catch on or as if on a snag
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