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
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
There’s also junior Andrej Stojaković, the son of former NBA sharpshooter Peja Stojaković.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
Golden State also did not lose All-Star Kayla Thornton, stretch center Iliana Rupert, scoring forward Janelle Salaün and sharpshooter Cecilia Zandalasini to Toronto or Portland.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
Awaka and sharpshooter Anthony Dell’Orso were starters last season, but shifted to bench roles with the influx of talent on the roster.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sharpshooter
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Andrew Greif, NBC news, 4 Apr. 2026
There’s also junior Andrej Stojaković, the son of former NBA sharpshooter Peja Stojaković.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
Golden State also did not lose All-Star Kayla Thornton, stretch center Iliana Rupert, scoring forward Janelle Salaün and sharpshooter Cecilia Zandalasini to Toronto or Portland.
—Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2026
Awaka and sharpshooter Anthony Dell’Orso were starters last season, but shifted to bench roles with the influx of talent on the roster.
—ABC News, 2 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 Apr. 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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