snipe

\ ˈsnīp

plural snipes

Definition of snipe

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

verb

sniped; sniping

Definition of snipe (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Other Words from snipe Example Sentences Learn More about snipe

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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 The Rangers watched Charlie McAvoy wheel around the net and set up Coyle for a 3-1 snipe, his first of the year. — BostonGlobe.com, "A 13-point night for the Bruins’ top line paved the way to a convincing victory - The Boston Globe," 28 Oct. 2019 Australia eventually made its pressure count as a quick snipe from scrum half White broke the deadlock with his third try for the Wallabies. — Ben Morse, CNN, "Australia beats Georgia in error-strewn game to go top of group," 11 Oct. 2019 Wringing jokes out of a field of candidates who mostly agree with each other — and who didn’t snipe at each other as viciously as the bloated Republican field did four years ago — wasn’t the simplest thing. — Steve Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Late-night TV confronts a tough question: Are Democratic candidates funny?," 28 June 2019 Yannick Weber tied it up with an unassisted top-shelf snipe, but Kyle Connor regained the lead 82 seconds later with his first career playoff goal. — Kristen Nelson, SI.com, "Stanley Cup Playoff Roundup: Capitals Edge Penguins; Jets Roll Past Predators," 6 May 2018 Evgeny Kuznetsov cut the Bolts’ lead in half late in the third on a dazzling snipe from a bad angle. — Kristen Nelson, SI.com, "Stanley Cup Playoffs: Lightning Get Much-Needed Win Over Capitals in Game 3," 15 May 2018 Jakub Vrana started it all with a breakaway snipe over Marc-Andre Fleury’s glove. — Tyler Horka, SI.com, "Capitals Rally Past Golden Knights in Game 5 to Win Stanley Cup," 7 June 2018 The sun dips toward the mountains in the north, and down from the sky floats that familiar wavering sound of kuukukiaq (common snipe) high in the air, newly arrived and hurrying to claim territories. — Seth Kantner, Anchorage Daily News, "We’re failing in our relationship with nature – and with each other," 9 June 2018 James Neal opened the scoring for Vegas with a snipe over Braden Holtby’s left shoulder. — Tyler Horka, SI.com, "Stanley Cup Final: Capitals, Holtby Hang on in Game 2 to Even Series," 30 May 2018 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The French club may instead look to Daniel Sturridge as a potential alternative should Falcao leave, as they are reported to have made a last-gasp offer to snipe the former Liverpool man away from Trabzonspor. — SI.com, "Wanda Nara Insists Mauro Icardi Will Not Be Moving to Monaco This Summer," 19 Aug. 2019 The scheming Roys consistently snipe at one another, as do the piano keys, but all of that gives way to loud, sweeping drama from time to time. — Sonia Rao, Houston Chronicle, "‘Succession’ composer makes music secondary character for series," 12 Aug. 2019 The best time to snipe flight deals today is from 6:30AM ET to 9:30AM ET, according to Hopper. — Shannon Liao, The Verge, "Today is ‘Travel Deal Tuesday,’ apparently, and it’s a good day to save on flights," 27 Nov. 2018 Wild Bill’ raced up the ice to snipe the game-winner over San Jose Sharks’ goalie Martin Jones at 8:17 of overtime, giving the Knights a 2-1 series lead. — Michael Blinn, SI.com, "Stanley Cup Playoffs Roundup: Lightning Rebound to Even Series; Karlsson Lifts Golden Knights in OT," 30 Apr. 2018 Trump and Comey continue to snipe at each other publicly. — Sari Horwitz, chicagotribune.com, "Comey calls House Intelligence Committee's Russia investigation 'a wreck'," 29 Apr. 2018 Trump and Comey continue to snipe at each other publicly. — Sari Horwitz, Washington Post, "Comey calls House Intelligence Committee’s Russia investigation ‘a wreck’," 29 Apr. 2018 Jumping out to a breakaway in the second period, Calvert initially tried to snipe one past Braden Holtby but completely fanned on the shot. — Tyler Horka, SI.com, "Stanley Cup Playoffs Roundup: Toronto Stops Late Surge From Boston to Force Game 6," 21 Apr. 2018 One very quick stash, for example, simply required me to snipe a keypad through a window across a lake. — Steven Strom, Ars Technica, "Far Cry 5 review: Five steps back," 27 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'snipe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.