Snipe — Meaning, Definition & Examples

Definition

1. (verb) To make unpleasant, critical remarks about someone, usually behind their back or from a safe distance.
2. (verb) To shoot at someone from a hidden position, usually from far away.
3. (noun) A quick, sharp, critical comment aimed at someone.

Context Alive

You are in a team meeting and everything seems fine until two colleagues start sniping at each other over whose idea was better. One says something sharp, the other fires back with a sarcastic comment, and the rest of the room just stares at the table. The manager finally steps in and tells them to sort it out after the meeting. You grab your coffee and think — some people just cannot let things go.

Meanings

3 meanings

1 To Make Sharp Critical Comments (Verb) Very Common ▼

This meaning is about making nasty, pointed remarks at someone — often indirectly or from a position where you cannot easily be challenged. Imagine two neighbours who have been in a dispute for months — instead of talking it out, they keep sniping at each other through passive-aggressive notes on each other's doors. This is describing verbal attacks that feel sharp and personal but are delivered without open confrontation. You might hear "stop sniping at each other and just have a proper conversation", or a journalist could write "opposition politicians have been sniping at the prime minister all week". Or picture a couple sitting at dinner with friends where one partner keeps sniping at the other with little digs about their habits. The word suggests the criticism is repeated, indirect, and slightly cowardly.

✏️ Sniping always has a negative feel — it is never used as a compliment. The most common pattern is "snipe at someone." The image behind the word comes from military snipers — shooting from a hidden position. When people snipe at each other verbally, the idea is the same: quick, targeted attacks from a safe distance rather than face-to-face honesty.

2 To Shoot from a Hidden Position (Verb) Common ▼

This meaning is the original military sense — firing at people from a concealed spot, usually at a distance. Imagine soldiers moving through an empty street when a shot comes from a rooftop — someone is sniping at them from a building they cannot see. This is describing a specific kind of attack: hidden, precise, and from far away. You might read "enemy fighters sniped at the convoy from the hillside" in a war report, or a documentary could describe how soldiers were "sniped at constantly" during the siege. Or picture a scene in a film where a lone gunman is sniping from a tower, picking off targets one by one. The word suggests precision, distance, and the fact that the attacker is hidden.

✏️ A person who does this professionally is called a sniper — one of the most well-known military roles. The word snipe originally comes from hunting a bird called a snipe, which was extremely difficult to shoot because of its fast, unpredictable flight. A good shot who could hit one was called a "sniper," and the term moved into military use.

3 A Sharp Critical Remark (Noun) Common ▼

This meaning is the comment itself — a quick, cutting remark aimed at someone. Imagine reading an interview where a celebrity takes a snipe at their former manager, calling them disorganised and selfish. This is describing a single sharp comment, not an ongoing argument. You might hear "that was a snipe at the boss, wasn't it?" after someone makes a pointed comment in a meeting, or a sports article could say "the coach took a snipe at the referee after the match". Or think about a politician who slips a quick snipe about their rival into an otherwise friendly speech. The word suggests the remark is deliberate, targeted, and meant to sting.

✏️ As a noun, snipe is often used with "take a snipe at" — similar to "take a shot at" someone. It is a single, sharp comment rather than a long argument. You will see it a lot in entertainment news, sports writing, and political coverage where public figures make pointed remarks about each other.

Common Patterns

Verb Patterns

snipe at + someone → the standard pattern — to direct criticism or fire at someone

The two brothers spent the whole dinner sniping at each other.

keep sniping / stop sniping → emphasises the repetitive, ongoing nature of the criticism

Can you two please stop sniping and focus on the project?

snipe at + someone + from + position → used in both verbal and military senses — attacking from a distance

Rebels sniped at the patrol from the rooftops.

Noun Patterns

take a snipe at + someone → to make a single sharp remark aimed at someone

She took a snipe at her ex-boyfriend during the interview.

a snipe about + something → a critical comment on a specific topic

He made a quick snipe about the team's lack of effort.

constant sniping → ongoing, repeated critical remarks

The constant sniping between departments is hurting morale.

Collocations

10 collocations

snipe at someone

to make sharp, critical comments aimed at a person

constant sniping

ongoing, repetitive critical remarks between people

take a snipe at

to make a single targeted critical comment

snipe from the sidelines

to criticise without being directly involved

political sniping

politicians making sharp public attacks on each other

snipe back

to respond to a critical comment with another one

petty sniping

small, unnecessary critical remarks

sniper fire

shots fired from a hidden, distant position

sniping match

an exchange of sharp critical comments between two sides

snipe at each other

two people trading nasty remarks back and forth

Example Sentences

10 examples

1

The two colleagues have been sniping at each other all week over who should lead the project.

The two workmates have been making sharp digs at one another all week about who should be in charge.

2

She took a snipe at her rival in the press conference, calling his plan unrealistic.

She made a pointed remark about her opponent at the press conference, saying his proposal was not practical.

3

Stop sniping at me and just tell me what the problem is.

Quit making little digs and just say openly what is bothering you.

4

Opposition leaders spent the debate sniping at the government's handling of the economy.

Rival politicians used the debate to fire sharp criticisms at how the government managed financial matters.

5

Enemy fighters sniped at the convoy from hidden positions along the road.

Hostile gunmen shot at the vehicle column from concealed spots beside the route.

6

The constant sniping between the two departments is making the office unbearable.

The endless back-and-forth criticism between the two teams is creating a terrible atmosphere at work.

7

He could not resist a quick snipe about her cooking during the dinner party.

He could not stop himself from making a cheeky dig about her food at the gathering.

8

Soldiers were warned that snipers had been active in the area all morning.

Troops were told that hidden gunmen had been firing in the zone since early morning.

9

It is easy to snipe from the sidelines when you are not the one making the decisions.

It is simple to criticise from the outside when you are not in charge.

10

The review was mostly positive but included a few snipes at the director's previous work.

The write-up was largely favourable but slipped in some sharp comments about the filmmaker's earlier projects.

Synonyms & Antonyms

6 items

Synonyms

criticise

more general and direct — does not imply hiding or distance

mock

focuses on making fun of someone rather than sharp verbal attacks

jab

a quick, targeted remark — similar feel but slightly more casual

Antonyms

praise

to say something positive about someone

compliment

to express admiration or approval directly

support

to back someone up rather than attack them