sneaks 1 of 2

Definition of sneaksnext
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
Ortiz sneaks field recordings and samples into these songs, too—each adding texture to the universe of her songs and evoking the wider world that exists just outside the frame of her narration. Marissa Lorusso, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026 But some sunlight still sneaks through Earth’s atmosphere, bends around the planet and lands on the moon. Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 3 Mar. 2026 Benedict is still all in with love, convincingly enough that Sophie sneaks back to her room, glowing and grinning, with the drawing of Our Cottage clutched in her hands. Christina Grace Tucker, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026 Saka sneaks in between the pair and Guglielmo Vicario makes a drastic save. Elias Burke, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026 Carolyn sneaks into a gala; Klein, the fairy godmother, introduces her to the instantly besotted prince, John. Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026 Nasir Khan, a scrawny Pakistani American college student living with his parents in Queens, sneaks out and drives his dad’s taxi to a party in Manhattan. Stephanie Bai, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026 In addition to its star billing, Albuquerque also sneaks into a few supporting roles. Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Jan. 2026 That pressure sneaks into how candidates speak, frame their stories and answer even routine questions. Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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 These shoes bring the comfort and versatility of your favorite sneaks, but with a distinctly polished, cool-girl edge. Annie Blackman, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026 He can’t be stopped short on most sneaks. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026 This is where the cold sneaks in. Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026 According to Canales, the decision to not use Young on QB sneaks is about physics. Charlotte Observer, 16 Dec. 2025 Rocky sneaks after her, sprinting through Manhattan streets and even swimming across a river — all in red silk pajamas — to reach her and propose in a romantically cinematic gesture. Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 30 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneaks
Verb
  • When a strange man lurks around the school asking supposedly innocent questions and the principal receives a severed human finger in the mail, the community is in an uproar.
    Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Binary neutron stars have long been considered the best bet for deciphering what lurks within.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • When investigative journalist infiltrates the group, the noose around the sect begins to tighten.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Directed by Daniel Chong, the movie is about a 19-year-old environmentalist who infiltrates the animal world in the body of a beaver.
    Lindsey Bahr, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The service Casually dressed in khaki and terracotta linen and Vans sneakers, the young staff are plentiful but not always on point.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Police said she was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, blue jeans and white sneakers with a black stripe.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • After one of Javadi's patients slips through the cracks, Dana calls in an old friend with experience running a low-tech ER.
    Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The Pleiades are at their most spectacular from October to March, after which the cluster slips ever lower in the spring sky, appearing closer to the horizon with each passing night.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 24 Mar. 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
  • Authorities found a total of 105 dead animals, including 77 rabbits, 23 chickens, two cats, a duck, a skunk and a squirrel, according to the warrant affidavit.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026
  • That’s a sure way to invite not only raccoons but other unwanted guests such as mice, opossums, and skunks.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Each impact steals a tiny bit of the spacecraft’s speed, pushing it a smidgen closer to Earth.
    Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Outstanding UConn defender Dom Perno steals the ball from Bradley as the clock runs out to preserve a UConn victory, sending UConn to the Elite 8, where they eventually were beaten by Duke, 101-54.
    Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The change added a room where prisoners are to be examined and prepped for either a standard peripheral IV, or a central line — a more invasive procedure that inserts into the internal jugular in the neck, a femoral vein in the upper thigh or a subclavian vein in the chest.
    Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 11 Mar. 2026
  • Meanwhile, Catherine’s ignored handmaid, Nelly (Hong Chau), inserts herself into everyone’s drama out of pique.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sneaks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneaks. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

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