cottonmouth

noun

cot·​ton·​mouth ˈkä-tᵊn-ˌmau̇th How to pronounce cottonmouth (audio)
: water moccasin

Examples of cottonmouth in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The four venomous groups are rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths, and coral snakes. — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 6 July 2026 Other pit vipers include rattlesnakes and cottonmouths. — Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2026 Tennessee's most venomous snake is the cottonmouth, or water moccasin. — Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Sep. 2025 For those making weekend trips to Lake of the Ozarks, northern cottonmouths can sometimes be spotted. — Sophie Lindberg, Kansas City Star, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cottonmouth

Word History

Etymology

from the white interior of its mouth

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cottonmouth was in 1832

Phrases Containing cottonmouth

Rhymes for cottonmouth

See All Rhymes for cottonmouth

Browse Nearby Words

cotton mouse
cottonmouth
cottonmouth moccasin
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cottonmouth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cottonmouth. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cottonmouth

Nglish: Translation of cottonmouth for Spanish Speakers

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