snag

1 of 2

noun

ˈsnag 

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

snaggy

ˈsna-gē 

adjective

snag

2 of 2

verb

snagged; snagging

transitive verb

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

Noun

• booby trap
• catch
• catch-22
• gimmick
• gotcha
• hitch
• joker
• land mine
• pitfall

Verb

• bag
• capture
• catch
• collar
• cop [slang]
• corral
• get
• glom
• grab
• grapple
• hook
• land
• nab
• nail
• net
• nobble [British slang]
• rap
• seize
• snap (up)
• snare
• snatch
• trap

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

Noun

The Air has won nearly unanimous praise but high prices and production snags have kept sales low — just 6,001 vehicles in 2023. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 18 Nov. 2024

All of the sheets were washed according to the manufacturer’s care instructions prior to use, then inspected for any imperfections, such as pilling, snags, color fading, loose threads. —Kathleen Felton, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse snagi clothes peg

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1587, in the meaning defined at sense 4b

Verb

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing snag

• hit a snag

Kids Definition

snag

1 of 2 noun

ˈsnag 

1

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