1
: a concealed or unexpected difficulty or obstacle
2
a
: an irregularity that suggests the result of tearing
especially
: a pulled thread in fabric
a snag in her stocking
b
: a jagged tear made by or as if by catching on a snag
3
: a rough sharp or jagged projecting part : protuberance: such as
a
: a projecting tooth
also
: a stump of a tooth
b
: one of the secondary branches of an antler
4
a
: a standing dead tree
b
: a tree or branch embedded in a lake or stream bed and constituting a hazard to navigation
snagged; snagging
1
a
: to catch and usually damage on or as if on a snag
b
: to halt or impede as if by catching on a snag
2
: to catch or obtain usually by quick action or good fortune
3
: to hew, trim, or cut roughly or jaggedly
4
: to clear (something, such as a river) of snags
Synonyms
Examples of snag in a Sentence
Noun
I caught my sleeve on a snag and tore it.
My sweater has a snag where I caught it on a nail.
Verb
I snagged my favorite sweater on a nail.
The shortstop snagged the grounder.
The police snagged the suspect as he was trying to run away.
I managed to snag the information I needed from the Internet.
Can I snag a ride from you?
Recent Examples on the Web
Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
Satisfy wanted to build an ultra-durable pair of shorts that could withstand ultramarathons through desert brambles and snags or forests dense with deadfall.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 8 Oct. 2024
The Editors, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024
Carpenter and Roan snagged nominations in the best new artist category.
—Daysia Tolentino, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for snag 
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Noun
The unfortunate snag here: Gloria Dayton is also the victim.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2024
Satisfy wanted to build an ultra-durable pair of shorts that could withstand ultramarathons through desert brambles and snags or forests dense with deadfall.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 8 Oct. 2024
Verb
Seven burly latches along the case were easy to close, with no danger of getting snagged and flipping open—a risk with other protective case brands.
—The Editors, Outside Online, 18 Nov. 2024
Carpenter and Roan snagged nominations in the best new artist category.
—Daysia Tolentino, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for snag
Articles Related to snag
Dictionary Entries Near snag
Cite this Entry
“Snag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snag. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
snag
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a tree or branch when stuck underwater and not visible from the surface
b
: a standing dead tree
2
: an uneven or broken part sticking out from a smooth surface
caught my sweater on a snag
3
: a concealed or unexpected difficulty
our plans hit a snag
snag
2 of 2 verb
snagged; snagging
: to catch on or as if on a snag
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