as in gun
a person who shoots at another person from a hidden place
The soldiers were attacked by a sniper.
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Recent Examples of sniper
Kneepkens can slide perfectly into the rotation as a surefire sniper from the 3-point line.
—
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
After shooting at the president, he was killed on the scene by a Secret Service counter sniper team.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Witnesses reported seeing snipers positioned on rooftops in the area and hearing multiple flash bangs, along with commands from deputies ordering the suspect to come out.
—Richard Ramos, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Edge, who faces additional charges, was serving with an elite sniper unit in Iraq when he was shot four times, including once in the head.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Law enforcement who responded to the scene of the crisis like Jeff Boyes, a SWAT team member and sniper, operated with a similar initial understanding.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
In the same way Leger-Walker went from a three-point sniper to a point guard or Rice went from a distributor to a shooter and Jaquez from a hoop driver to a three-level scorer, Betts transformed from a post-up only scorer to the conductor of the Bruins’ office in the middle of the floor.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Executioner was a pulpy book series that told the muscular and bullet-filled adventures of Mack Bolan, a sniper turned one man army fighting against the Mafia, the KGB, terrorists and cyber-criminals, or whoever were the bad guys of his latest book’s era.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
This January, Moscow increased military shipments to Iran, most likely including attack helicopters, air defense systems, spare parts for Su-35 fighter jets, radio-electronic equipment and sniper rifles.
—Mikhail Alexseev, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
After shooting at the president, he was killed on the scene by a Secret Service counter sniper team.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Witnesses reported seeing snipers positioned on rooftops in the area and hearing multiple flash bangs, along with commands from deputies ordering the suspect to come out.
—Richard Ramos, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Edge, who faces additional charges, was serving with an elite sniper unit in Iraq when he was shot four times, including once in the head.
—ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Law enforcement who responded to the scene of the crisis like Jeff Boyes, a SWAT team member and sniper, operated with a similar initial understanding.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
In the same way Leger-Walker went from a three-point sniper to a point guard or Rice went from a distributor to a shooter and Jaquez from a hoop driver to a three-level scorer, Betts transformed from a post-up only scorer to the conductor of the Bruins’ office in the middle of the floor.
—Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Executioner was a pulpy book series that told the muscular and bullet-filled adventures of Mack Bolan, a sniper turned one man army fighting against the Mafia, the KGB, terrorists and cyber-criminals, or whoever were the bad guys of his latest book’s era.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
This January, Moscow increased military shipments to Iran, most likely including attack helicopters, air defense systems, spare parts for Su-35 fighter jets, radio-electronic equipment and sniper rifles.
—Mikhail Alexseev, Twin Cities, 22 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sniper
Noun
-
Police have previously said that the shooting likely stemmed from one person firing a gun at a gathering of 100 to 200 people on the block.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The gun police took from his cousin’s home wasn’t the gun used in the shooting, either, a firearms report showed.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Oforah was an infantry rifleman.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
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The Marine Corps said Rubio was trained as an infantry rifleman and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Robert Edwin Kline was a 22-year-old gunner's mate second class when he was killed on the Arizona.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2026
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Netherlands Ministry of Defense Last year, Norway's Princess Ingrid Alexandria finished 15-months of service as a gunner in an engineering battalion.—
Frank Andrews,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Fighting Illini are one of the best offensive teams in the country, with sharpshooters all over the floor, but so far that hasn't come to fruition.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
4 Apr. 2026
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There’s also junior Andrej Stojaković, the son of former NBA sharpshooter Peja Stojaković.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sniper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sniper. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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