viper

noun vi·per \ ˈvī-pər \

|Updated on: 4 Jul 2018

Definition of viper

1 a : a common Eurasian venomous snake (Vipera berus) that attains a length of about two feet (0.6 meter), varies in color from red, brown, or gray with dark markings to black, and is usually not fatal to humans; broadly : any of a family (Viperidae) of venomous snakes that includes Old World snakes (subfamily Viperinae) and the pit vipers

b : a venomous or reputedly venomous snake

2 : a vicious or treacherous person

See viper defined for English-language learners

See viper defined for kids

Examples of viper in a Sentence

a viper sliding silently through the field

Recent Examples of viper from the Web

Michigan also has offered West Bloomfield 2019 4-star linebacker Lance Dixon, who projects as a viper in Brown's defense.

— chris nelsen, Detroit Free Press, "4-star prospect Marvin Grant Jr.: Recent contact with Michigan minimal," 10 Mar. 2018
The challenge for Succession is making viewers care about this nest of vipers, sniping and biting at each other for hours on end.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "Filthy Rich: The Power Plays of Succession," 2 June 2018
Some Folsom Lake boaters got a rude surprise last year when a viper crept onto their vessel.

— benjy egel, sacbee, "Young girl bitten by rattlesnake while playing on Effie Yeaw playground | The Sacramento Bee," 9 May 2018
Hudson spent last spring and offseason getting a crash course in how to play viper.

— nick baumgardner, Detroit Free Press, "What's next for Michigan's Khaleke Hudson? Anything he wants," 9 May 2018
Burgess veers chaotically from being sympathetically washed up at 30 to a fragile and spiteful viper.

— jim rutter, Philly.com, "'Mrs. Harrison' at the Azuka Theatre: Power and promise, here, now, everywhere," 9 May 2018
His snake farm, located down a muddy track outside Bukhara, sells tiny vials of viper venom for $2,000 each.

— andrew higgins, New York Times, "In Bukhara, 10,000 Jewish Graves but Just 150 Jews," 7 Apr. 2018
This week, Bitcoin’s most despised man subjected himself to the Internet equivalent of a den of vipers: Reddit.

— cyrus farivar, Ars Technica, "Mt. Gox ex-CEO, who may profit from site’s fall, says he “doesn’t want this”," 6 Apr. 2018
Pythons solved one of the problems with the viper study: volume.

— ellen airhart, WIRED, "These Conservationists Are Desperate to Defrost Snake Sperm," 13 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of viper

Middle English vipere, from Latin vipera

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

viper Synonyms

Synonyms

serpent, snake;

VIPER Defined for English Language Learners

viper

noun

Definition of viper for English Language Learners

: a type of poisonous snake

VIPER Defined for Kids

viper

noun vi·per \ ˈvī-pər \

Definition of viper for Students

: a poisonous heavy-bodied snake with long hollow fangs

Medical Dictionary

viper

noun vi·per \ ˈvī-pər \

medical Definition of viper

1 : a common Eurasian venomous snake of the genus Vipera (V. berus) that attains a length of about two feet (0.6 meter), varies in color from red, brown, or gray with dark markings to black, and whose bite is usually not fatal to humans; broadly : any snake of an Old World subfamily (Viperinae) of the family Viperidae

2 : pit viper

3 : a venomous or reputedly venomous snake