sneaker

noun

sneak·​er ˈsnē-kər How to pronounce sneaker (audio)
Synonyms of sneakernext
1
: one that sneaks
2
: a sports shoe with a pliable rubber sole
sneakered
ˈsnē-kərd How to pronounce sneaker (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of sneaker

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of sneaker in a Sentence

she's such a sneaker I wouldn't trust her any farther than I could throw her
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.
For anyone who prioritizes cushioning, the Bondi 9 sneaker is hard to beat. — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026 The Samba sneakers add a sporty element, while proving to be comfortable and easy to walk around in around New York City. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 5 July 2026 Nimin High-Waisted Trousers This trouser option comes in short lengths and can be worn casually with comfy sneakers for brunch, or dressed up with a blouse for the office. — Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026 Before sneaker collaborations became commonplace and hip-hop became a global industry, there was Run-DMC and Adidas. — Ernie Suggs, AJC.com, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sneaker

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sneaker was in 1598

Rhymes for sneaker

See All Rhymes for sneaker

Browse Nearby Words

sneak current
sneaker
sneakily
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sneaker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sneaker. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

sneaker

noun
sneak·​er ˈsnē-kər How to pronounce sneaker (audio)
1
: one that sneaks
2
: a sports shoe (as of canvas) with a rubber sole
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All