sharpshooter
noun
sharp·shoot·er
ˈshärp-ˌshü-tər 
plural sharpshooters
1
: a person who is highly skilled in shooting a weapon (such as a rifle) at a mark or target
a police sharpshooter
Determined to prevent any attempt on Lincoln's life, General Winfield Scott had placed sharpshooters on the roofs of buildings along the avenue …—
David Herbert Donald
David Herbert Donald2
sports
: a consistently accurate shooter (as in basketball)
A 6' 9" sharpshooter who several NBA scouts predict will be a first-round pick …—Tim Crothers
Tim Crothers3
: any of various large leafhoppers that have powerful hind legs with spines on the tibia
The sharpshooter uses a needlelike mouthpart to suck fluids from trees and plants. As it goes from one to the next, it spreads diseases that can wipe out orange groves and other crops.—Carl Zimmer
Carl ZimmerIn Temecula, disease-carrying sharpshooters have turned some vineyards into wastelands.—Steve Schmidt
Steve SchmidtExamples of sharpshooter in a Sentence
the police stationed sharpshooters on rooftops all along the route of the presidential motorcade
Recent Examples on the Web
By the time Game 6 rolled around, Minnesota was without star Anthony Edwards, sharpshooter Donte DiVincenzo and even Ayo Dosunmu, who had stepped up earlier in the series in the absence of the latter duo.
—Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 2 May 2026
The rookie sharpshooter nailed a huge 3-pointer during the comeback in the fourth — fittingly assisted by Leger-Walker — but finished just 1-for-6 from the field and 1-for-3 beyond the arc.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Add the fact that Luke Kennard has all but vanished over the last 96 minutes – the sharpshooter scoring just eight points while going 0 for 5 from behind the arc – and the Lakers might need Reaves to bridge the offensive gap exploited by two defeats to close the series.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
If ruled out, head coach Mike Brown could turn to backup guard Miles McBride, reserve sharpshooter Landry Shamet or defensive anchor Mitchell Robinson in the starting five.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
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Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 2 May 2026
The rookie sharpshooter nailed a huge 3-pointer during the comeback in the fourth — fittingly assisted by Leger-Walker — but finished just 1-for-6 from the field and 1-for-3 beyond the arc.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
Add the fact that Luke Kennard has all but vanished over the last 96 minutes – the sharpshooter scoring just eight points while going 0 for 5 from behind the arc – and the Lakers might need Reaves to bridge the offensive gap exploited by two defeats to close the series.
—Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 30 Apr. 2026
If ruled out, head coach Mike Brown could turn to backup guard Miles McBride, reserve sharpshooter Landry Shamet or defensive anchor Mitchell Robinson in the starting five.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sharpshooter
Cite this Entry
“Sharpshooter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sharpshooter. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sharpshooter
noun
sharp·shoot·er
ˈshärp-ˌshüt-ər
: one skilled in shooting : a good marksman
sharpshooting
noun
-ˌshüt-iŋ
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