snipe

1 of 2

noun

ˈsnīp 

plural snipes

1

or plural snipe : any of various usually slender-billed birds of the sandpiper family

especially : any of several game birds (especially genus Gallinago) especially of marshy areas

2

: a contemptible person

snipe

2 of 2

verb

sniped; sniping

intransitive verb

1

: to shoot at exposed individuals (as of an enemy's forces) from a usually concealed point of vantage

2

: to aim a carping or snide attack

sniper noun

Examples of snipe in a Sentence

Verb

Enemy fighters sniped at them from vacant buildings.

One of the senators sniped, “What does he think this is, a monarchy?”.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

If the Trump Administration’s unsubtle snipe at Joy Behar this week was meant to quiet The View cohost, the mission was not accomplished. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 July 2025

But Pierre-Luc Dubois’ snipe on the advantage late in the third period effectively ended any hope the Penguins had of rallying to earn at least a point. —Rob Rossi, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025

Verb

And while everyone is sniping at each other over their long-term, small-town interpersonal histories, the town is being quietly sold off to build a hyperscale data center called Solidgoldmagikarp (a reference to a phrase that throws off ChatGPT). —Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 20 July 2025

After feuding last month over the bill, the two men seemingly reached a detente — only to once again start sniping at each other over the past week. —Brandon Conradis, The Hill, 6 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse snīpa snipe; akin to Old High German snepfa snipe

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for snipe

• gripe
• hype
• lipe
• pipe
• ripe
• sipe
• skype
• stipe
• stripe
• strype
• swipe
• tripe

Kids Definition

snipe

1 of 2 noun

ˈsnīp 

plural snipes or snipe

: any of several birds that have a long slender bill, live mostly in marshy areas, and are related to the sandpipers

snipe

2 of 2 verb

sniped; sniping

1

: to shoot at exposed individuals of an enemy's forces from a usually concealed point

2

: to attack with unfair or cutting remarks

sniper noun