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

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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!"

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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
That pressure sneaks into how candidates speak, frame their stories and answer even routine questions. Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026 Romance sneaks into your schedule, making things feel disruptive and unexpected, Virgo. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026 With a new alias, Andrew Birch, Pine sneaks around Roper’s Majorca compound and relays key documents to Burr, all while keeping an indiscriminate profile. Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 9 Jan. 2026 Now, with nowhere else to turn, Mauser sneaks in uninvited to a swanky party in Rockwell's home and begs for his support in front of his wealthy friends. Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025 But watching how the flu virus sneaks into cells has been difficult because standard microscopes can't capture these fast, tiny steps clearly. Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 12 Dec. 2025 The Amazon sneaks and Wednesday grosses will be rolled into Thursday. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 18 Nov. 2025 That simplicity cuts out the mental friction that often sneaks into short trips with overstuffed itineraries from trying to do everything in a short time. Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 16 Nov. 2025 Dreamed up at Neiman Marcus in the 1950s, this retro classic blends creamy cheese, bacon, and green onions, then sneaks in almonds for a little surprise crunch. Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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 Usually that’s where the story ends but here, ground cardamom sneaks in for some warm spice. The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2025 Jason Kelce noted Bills quarterback Josh Allen scored twice against the Chiefs on sneaks. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025 About six minutes later, Dawson Knox caught a 30-yarder in the second quarter to set up the first of Allen’s two TD sneaks. The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025 Set in the old rail cars of a former train depot, the energy of Donn's sneaks right out the front door and onto the streets. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025 Farther west, some rain could occur over the central Gulf Coast, but amounts will be dependent on how much sneaks onshore, with heavier amounts offshore, the prediction center said. Doyle Rice, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025 Take a cue from the Celine runways and pair them with a blazer, low-profile retro sneaks, and a silk scarf knotted around the neck. Christina Holevas, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneaks
Verb
  • As its name suggests, the asterism lurks relatively low on the horizon in the winter months for stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere, but rises high overhead during short summer nights.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
  • With all things in the beauty galaxy, there’s always a new hope, but of course a phantom menace lurks around every corner.
    Brennan Kilbane, Allure, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Tehran stars Niv Sultan as agent Tamar Robinyan, a hacker who infiltrates Tehran under a false identity.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
  • The lakes overlay sand that rapidly infiltrates water, carrying it into the ground or into the district’s 30 storage basins.
    Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Style them now with boots and a sweater to complete the look, and match them with a tee and sneakers when the weather starts to heat up.
    Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
  • The outcry over Ye's public statements led various corporations and entertainment firms to cut ties with him, including the sportswear brand Adidas, which once sold his namesake Yeezy sneakers.
    Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • That tune slips several spaces, pushed downward by new releases from Harry Styles, Rob Zombie, and Def Leppard, among others.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Knausgaard slips easily into this way of looking at life.
    Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • 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 critters who drop in or call the space home range from monarch butterflies, ladybugs and lizards to hummingbirds and bushtits, skunks, opossums and even the occasional mountain lion.
    Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
  • Thiols are responsible for the distinctive aromas of skunk spray and ripe durian; they’re also added to natural gas to provide a detectable rotten-egg smell at even trace levels.
    Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • If your boss repeatedly steals credit, your first move is not to react.
    Chris Lipp, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
  • When a ruthless despot steals a billion-dollar fortune, the team is sent to steal it back on what would be for anyone else a suicide mission.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Detailed this week in the journal ACS Sensors, the team describes a small device made from an array of microneedles that inserts into a dead fish (or fillets) and continuously measures hypoxanthine (HX), a key compound closely associated with spoilage.
    Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 4 Dec. 2025
  • Amid the melodrama, Trier inserts flashes of comedy.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sneaks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneaks. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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