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
This combination of music and entertainment sneaks education in where kids least expect it. Parents, 10 July 2026 In this case, a creator pairs her sneaks with a graphic tee. Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 16 June 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 He can’t be stopped short on most sneaks. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneaks
Verb
  • But in the brave heart of this fictional protagonist, there lurks a righteous threshing machine, ripe for a Great Rebellion in writer-director Paul Greengrass’ latest feature.
    Michael Phillips, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
  • His line of work has taught him that danger lurks everywhere.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • When an outsider infiltrates the family, buried tensions surface and blood ties are severed.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 24 July 2026
Noun
  • On a network where women once seemed to have a uniform of bright sheath dresses, Jessica Tarlov is wearing sneakers.
    Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Buying a pair of sneakers cosigned by your favorite celebrity or athlete—say, Zendaya’s collaboration with On, which Shelton recently wore, or Alcaraz’s Nike kit designed in partnership with Travis Scott—is a way in.
    José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The planet slips quickly from view, setting just 35 minutes after sundown by month's end.
    Joe Rao, Space.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The easy style slips right onto the foot, offers actual support, and dresses up your favorite wardrobe staples.
    Kaelin Dodge, InStyle, 3 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 National Aviary wants your help naming its two new skunk sisters.
    Finch Walker, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • State officials say four goats from Farm Adventures Mobile Petting Zoo were likely exposed by a skunk that went into the pen where they're kept.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • If someone finds or steals it, does the information remain encrypted and inaccessible?
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Jealousy and entitlement steer the actions of middling white writer June Hayward, who brazenly steals the manuscript of her much more talented friend, Chinese-American author, Athena Liu, after being the sole witness to Athena’s death.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • 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
  • In honor of that legacy, Michelson often inserts Indigenous sovereignty into historically fraught public spaces.
    Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 30 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sneaks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneaks. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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