as in cheat
a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value
carnival sharpers eager to relieve the yokels of their money
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sharper
Yet as Russian war atrocities have become more evident, and Ukraine’s need for heavy armor has increased, the lines have grown blurrier and the rhetoric sharper.
—
David E. Sanger, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2022
Both offer blistering acceleration and sharper handling than the standard model.
—Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 19 Feb. 2021
Where Super Mario 64 suffers is in its environmental textures, which don't appear to have been redrawn to look any sharper on higher-resolution screens.
—Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 16 Sep. 2020
Other sharpers were Doc Frame, Major James S. Showers and Colonel Rickett, who ran the Senate Saloon.
—Darryl Levings, kansascity, 26 Jan. 2018
For example, there is the Butch Lewis Act, which has nothing at all to do with boxing but, rather, is a bill to protect private pensions from being looted by corporate sharpers.
—Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, 20 Jan. 2018
And the aboveground economy will remain the province of the unindicted sharpers who did such a great job with it in 2008.
—Charles P. Pierce, SI.com, 30 Sep. 2017
The sophomore from Colleyville has been a touch sharper on field goals than Jonathan Song in the fall practices.
—Carlos Mendez, star-telegram, 14 Aug. 2017
David E. Sanger, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2022
Both offer blistering acceleration and sharper handling than the standard model.
—Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 19 Feb. 2021
Where Super Mario 64 suffers is in its environmental textures, which don't appear to have been redrawn to look any sharper on higher-resolution screens.
—Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 16 Sep. 2020
Other sharpers were Doc Frame, Major James S. Showers and Colonel Rickett, who ran the Senate Saloon.
—Darryl Levings, kansascity, 26 Jan. 2018
For example, there is the Butch Lewis Act, which has nothing at all to do with boxing but, rather, is a bill to protect private pensions from being looted by corporate sharpers.
—Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, 20 Jan. 2018
And the aboveground economy will remain the province of the unindicted sharpers who did such a great job with it in 2008.
—Charles P. Pierce, SI.com, 30 Sep. 2017
The sophomore from Colleyville has been a touch sharper on field goals than Jonathan Song in the fall practices.
—Carlos Mendez, star-telegram, 14 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sharper
Noun
-
The Shortcut — and Its Risks For aspiring creators, reality TV feels like a cheat code.—
Amanda Marcovitch,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
New research is shedding light on the inner workings of the multimillion-dollar gray market for video game cheats.—
Lily Hay Newman,
Wired News,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
These changes will also usher in a shift in the way U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) handles customs and tariff enforcement, with both the DOJ and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) laser focused on duty dodgers.—
Kate Nishimura,
Sourcing Journal,
30 July 2025
-
Blue Jays Trade Rumors Reaching New Peak Read more Los angeles dodgers Sandy Alcántara Trade?—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 July 2025
Noun
-
Even back on board, the show continues after dark, with pelicans and reef sharks drawn to the yacht’s lights and sea lions sometimes clambering onto the aft deck.—
Rachel Ingram,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
These included Tralalero Tralala, a three-legged shark with blue Nikes; Tung Tung Tung Sahur, an anthropomorphic wood plank; and Ballerina Cappuccina, a cup of golden-brown coffee in a pink bodice.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
One of my buddies uses a fish skinner on his backstraps to cut away the silverskin, which works well, but requires an extra gadget.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Its residents were the usual suspects—moonshiners, prohibition runners, alligator skinners, and plume hunters, who, at the beginning of the 20th century, were slowly decimating the bird population to support the fashion for exotic feathers in women’s hats.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sharper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sharper. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share