Definition of viper
1a : 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 vipersb : a venomous or reputedly venomous snake
2 : a vicious or treacherous person
From the M-W Editors
Examples of viper in a Sentence
a viper sliding silently through the field
Recent Examples of viper from the Web
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Waters said his Viper demo team is scheduled on the air show circuit through November with few days off.
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Character: ViperSince 1986: Listen, Tom Skerritt has had a very long and illustrious career.
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After being bitten by pit vipers, some Brazilian plantation workers were observed to collapse and suffer plummeting blood pressure.
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
VIPER Defined for English Language Learners
VIPER Defined for Kids
viper
playDefinition of viper for Students
: a poisonous heavy-bodied snake with long hollow fangs
Medical Dictionary
viper
playMedical 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
Learn More about viper
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See words that rhyme with viper Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for viper Spanish Central: Translation of viper Nglish: Translation of viper for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of viper for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about viper
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