as in guns
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 snipers
We should be asked how our youth retain the impulse to be free when trigger-happy Israeli soldiers and snipers are ordered to kill unarmed children demanding their human rights.
—
Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
Hill first took office in January 2005, beginning his tenure by firing 27 deputies who were stripped of their guns and badges and then escorted out as sheriff’s office snipers stood guard on the roof of the jail.
—Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Geolocated video showed explosions and snipers on rooftops in the city, as well as tribal militia celebrating on the streets.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
The Iranian protesters stepping fearlessly into the sights of government snipers are being seen by the American left with more suspicion than sympathy.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2026
There are chaotic military bases and open-air markets and mad prophets and scavengers and snipers and some people who’ve managed to establish some twisted sense of normalcy.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Rumors spread that there would be protests and snipers at the school Monday.
—Tyler Kingkade, NBC news, 9 Nov. 2025
Introduced in 1963, the cartridge gained widespread adoption among military snipers, law enforcement agencies, and hunters due to its exceptional power, accuracy, and versatility.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2025
On Monday, Tchiroma accused the government of plotting to arrest him and posted images on social media of snipers near his residence - claims that could not be independently verified.
—NPR, 27 Oct. 2025
Literary Hub, 11 Feb. 2026
Hill first took office in January 2005, beginning his tenure by firing 27 deputies who were stripped of their guns and badges and then escorted out as sheriff’s office snipers stood guard on the roof of the jail.
—Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Geolocated video showed explosions and snipers on rooftops in the city, as well as tribal militia celebrating on the streets.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 18 Jan. 2026
The Iranian protesters stepping fearlessly into the sights of government snipers are being seen by the American left with more suspicion than sympathy.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 16 Jan. 2026
There are chaotic military bases and open-air markets and mad prophets and scavengers and snipers and some people who’ve managed to establish some twisted sense of normalcy.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
Rumors spread that there would be protests and snipers at the school Monday.
—Tyler Kingkade, NBC news, 9 Nov. 2025
Introduced in 1963, the cartridge gained widespread adoption among military snipers, law enforcement agencies, and hunters due to its exceptional power, accuracy, and versatility.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2025
On Monday, Tchiroma accused the government of plotting to arrest him and posted images on social media of snipers near his residence - claims that could not be independently verified.
—NPR, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snipers
Noun
-
Among the category winners were stunning photographs including the guns of a Japanese Navy wreck, a female octopus lovingly guarding her eggs and the moment clownfish eggs hatch.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Agents ran into a grocery store with guns, busted a United States citizen’s truck window and lingered outside an office belonging to an immigrant-friendly nonprofit, among other controversies.—
Ryan Oehrli
Updated February 26,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The sharpshooters are trained wildlife biologists with firearm expertise, highly trained at shooting deer.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Feb. 2026
-
UConn shot just 3-for-8 from the perimeter before halftime, but the team’s sharpshooters found a rhythm in the third.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Snipers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snipers. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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