viper
noun
vi·per
| \ ˈvī-pər
\
\
Definition of viper
1a
: a common Eurasian venomous snake (Vipera berus) that attains a length of about two feet (0.6 meter), varies in color from red, brown, or gray with dark markings to black, and is usually not fatal to humans
broadly
: any of a family (Viperidae) of venomous snakes that includes Old World snakes (subfamily Viperinae) and the pit vipers
b
: a venomous or reputedly venomous snake
2
: a vicious or treacherous person
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Examples of viper in a Sentence
a viper sliding silently through the field
Recent Examples on the Web
In Semple’s depiction, Bernadette is more than just crabby and eloquently viper-tongued; she’s possessed by a sociopolitical bitterness, as well. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "“Where’d You Go, Bernadette,” Reviewed: Richard Linklater’s Narrow View of a Creator in Crisis," 26 Aug. 2019 At Michigan the viper is always on the field; at Ohio State, the bullet will not be. — Stephen Means, cleveland.com, "How is Ohio State football’s ‘Bullet’ different than Michigan’s ‘Viper’ position?," 19 Aug. 2019 There's more to playing viper in Brown's system than rushing the quarterback. — Nick Baumgardner, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan football: LB Anthony Solomon will look for his fit," 3 July 2019 If Sheeran is a model for how to embrace success without losing your soul, Jack’s agent, an industry viper named Debra (an amusing Kate McKinnon), is on hand to disabuse him of the notion that the soul even exists. — Justin Chang, latimes.com, "Review: 'Yesterday' imagines a world without the Beatles — and doesn't make you want to visit," 26 June 2019 In a preview screening Tuesday, guests got glimpses into the lives of three animals — a California condor, an African antelope called a klipspringer, and a Mang mountain viper. — San Diego Union-Tribune, "Animal Planet show about San Diego Zoo debuts Aug. 10," 24 July 2019 The House on Telegraph Hill’’ (1951) as a Polish woman who survives a Nazi concentration camp, steals a dead friend’s identity, moves to San Francisco, and lands in a nest of vipers scheming after a fortune. — Adam Bernstein, BostonGlobe.com, "Valentina Cortese, Italian film actress, dies at 96," 10 July 2019 Mary Louise is a one-note viper who's more concerned with insulting Madeline's height than showing any human empathy. — Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, "Meryl Streep is the worst thing about 'Big Little Lies' Season 2. What happened?," 1 July 2019 Kloepher enlisted the help of Cooper Sallade, a respected viper breeder in Richmond, who agreed to raise the bifurcated snake on a strictly confidential basis. — Laura Mallonee, WIRED, "The Life and Viral Fame of Virginia's Two-Headed Snake," 13 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'viper.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for viper
viper
noun
English Language Learners Definition of viper
: a type of poisonous snake
See the full definition for viper in the English Language Learners Dictionary
viper
noun
vi·per
| \ ˈvī-pər
\
\
Kids Definition of viper
: a poisonous heavy-bodied snake with long hollow fangs
viper
noun
vi·per
| \ ˈvī-pər
\
\
Medical Definition of viper
1
: a common Eurasian venomous snake of the genus Vipera (V. berus) that attains a length of about two feet (0.6 meter), varies in color from red, brown, or gray with dark markings to black, and whose bite is usually not fatal to humans
broadly
: any snake of an Old World subfamily (Viperinae) of the family Viperidae
2
: pit viper
3
: a venomous or reputedly venomous snake
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