sneaks 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of sneak
1
as in lurks
to move about in a sly or secret manner the little kids sneak around upstairs when they're supposed to be in bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in infiltrates
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way sneak the topic into the conversation any way you can

Synonyms & Similar Words

sneaks

2 of 2

noun

plural of sneak
as in sneakers
someone who acts in a sly and secret manner "Why, you little sneak," the mother exclaimed, "you made my birthday present right under my nose!"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 sneaks
Verb
Every round, the players put on googly-eyed glasses that obscure their vision while Sam sneaks over to tap a Spy, who removes their glasses so Sam can point out which object fits the prompt. Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026 Manual friction sneaks in as systems fail to scale with growth or suffer from poor implementation. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Caminos, who is on a different floor, sneaks around on foot to try and evade detection. Jay Peters, The Verge, 27 Aug. 2026 The target hides in a food truck, gets on another plane, flies to England, hides on another food truck and sneaks back on Air Force One. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026 The film cannily tugs on the heartstrings, pulls off classic slapstick comedy and sneaks obscure film references into its visuals. David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 While the hilarity quotient is high, Chinn also sneaks in observant commentary on class, race, and gender—and the chemistry among the four leads is absolutely off the charts. Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026 Andruw Jones sneaks in on his ninth year, his next-to-last try. Greg Cote july 26, Miami Herald, 26 July 2026 And that’s where the Leonard situation sneaks into the equation. Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 July 2026
Noun
The Giants ran a modified version of the tush push, with 300-pound fullback Pat Ricard motioning behind Dart to help the quarterback surge forward on his sneaks. Dan Duggan, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Her ballet sneaks of choice are Vivaia’s Lexi Sneakers, which are a more structured, sporty take on the brand’s beloved extra-slim Sneakerinas—a shoe worn by the likes of Nicole Kidman, Bella Hadid and Julia Roberts. Annie Blackman, InStyle, 14 Sep. 2026 This combination of music and entertainment sneaks education in where kids least expect it. Parents, 10 July 2026 These sneaks utilize the latest running innovations to ensure your kicks improve performance while still looking stylish. Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 22 Apr. 2026 Wear them to work with a pair of cute loafers and a spring blouse, or dress them down with a tee and your favorite sneaks for a comfy-casual look. Madeline Merinuk, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026 Fields also ran eight QB sneaks in 2025 — a play absent from the Chiefs playbook since Mahomes dislocated his kneecap on a sneak in 2019 — and converted seven of them. Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 17 Mar. 2026 There were sneaks stateside on Saturday which will be rolled into Thursday previews which start at 2PM. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2026 Ax’s piano sneaks in as a junior partner, politely turning over its concerto to a colleague. Justin Davidson, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneaks
Verb
  • Clements sets the scene with lively pop music and excellent period-specific costuming, though darkness lurks beneath the funky 1970s groove.
    Marya E. Gates, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2026
  • The legend begins with Cardellini’s Voorhees, as something still lurks in the woods, only knowing how to kill.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The show, which stars Jessica Chastain as an investigator who infiltrates online hate groups to prevent incidents of mad violence.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2026
  • This coexistence of the everyday and the extraordinary suggested to me a cinematic way of approaching death – not as a spectacular intrusion, but as a presence that slowly infiltrates daily life.
    Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The Instagram ad photo showed K-pop singer Karina wearing a skirt and holding a pair of Chuck 70 X sneakers.
    Dave Collins, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Lawrence paired hers with a cardigan, jeans and Adidas sneakers, while Carpenter dressed it up with a white fur coat.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Many congregants remain standing, using this final chance to plead their case as the day slips by.
    Reuven Kimelman, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The end goal is to hand off tedious tasks to the AI, be that managing your calendar or filling out school permission slips that show up in your email.
    Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • MomTok got Taylor on the plane and off to star in The Bachelorette, but not before Dakota worms his way in one last time.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Guiteau eventually worms his way into an audience, ostensibly seeking an ambassadorship for his dubious contributions to the campaign but, in reality, requesting a path to greatness.
    Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The disease, which spreads through bites and scratches from infected animals, is most commonly carried by bats, foxes, raccoons and skunks.
    Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • In Texas, rabies has been detected mostly in bats, skunks, raccoons and foxes, according to the state health department.
    Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Danbi steals money from the church and ends up imprisoned, separated from her daughter (whom righteous John takes in), and responsible for her partner’s suicide.
    Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Fighting Irish wide receiver Raghib Ismail steals the show by returning kickoffs 88 and 92 yards for touchdowns.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • What should be a relaxing weekend quickly veers off course as Chuck inserts himself into the group and tests the limits of their patience.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The Relic chip, of course, is the impetus for the main storyline of Cyberpunk 2077, where V inserts the experimental tech that contains the soul, in effect, of a real person.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sneaks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneaks. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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