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water snake
noun
: any of various snakes (especially genus Nerodia formerly included in the genus Natrix) that frequent or inhabit fresh water and feed largely on aquatic animals
Examples of water snake in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
My friend the artist and naturalist George Sanford McGee, who came with us, spotted a gorgeous brown water snake napping on one knee.
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John Jeremiah Sullivan, Travel + Leisure, 24 July 2024
At first, the friends thought the snake was a non-venomous water snake, but realized later, once the snake had swam closer, that the reptile was a venomous diamondback rattlesnake.
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Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 3 May 2024
His fluid motion — pulling the mesh nets from the water, swapping the old bait for a fresh chunk of porgy — was interrupted only by the occasional water snake on top of a trap or a turtle inside one.
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Rick Rojas Emily Kask, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024
Lofty pine trees shade the sun; pools of standing black water snake a path to an expansive freshwater lake.
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Danielle Amir Jackson, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'water snake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1527, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near water snake
Cite this Entry
“Water snake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20snake. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Kids Definition
water snake
noun
: any of various snakes found in or near fresh waters and feeding largely on water-dwelling animals
More from Merriam-Webster on water snake
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for water snake
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about water snake
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