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
Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Oct. 2024
The International Longshoremen’s Association, known as the ILA, argued that big global cargo carriers have raked in huge profits since pandemic-era supply-chain snags drove up freight rates, and that workers haven’t sufficiently shared in those gains.
—Phil Helsel, NBC News, 3 Oct. 2024
Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2024
Born June 21, 1938, Ely snagged the part of Tarzan after playing supporting roles in films such as South Pacific (1958), The Fiend Who Walked the West (1958), and The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959).
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for snag 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Noun
Marvel Studios announced Blade at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019, but has hit a number of snags on the way to the screen, including the pandemic, labor strikes and losing two filmmakers.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Oct. 2024
The International Longshoremen’s Association, known as the ILA, argued that big global cargo carriers have raked in huge profits since pandemic-era supply-chain snags drove up freight rates, and that workers haven’t sufficiently shared in those gains.
—Phil Helsel, NBC News, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
Although Years & Years has effectively morphed into a solo project for Olly Alexander, the British electropop outfit is still snagging hits.
—Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2024
Born June 21, 1938, Ely snagged the part of Tarzan after playing supporting roles in films such as South Pacific (1958), The Fiend Who Walked the West (1958), and The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker (1959).
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 23 Oct. 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 5 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share