shark

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈshärk How to pronounce shark (audio)
Synonyms of sharknext
: any of numerous mostly marine cartilaginous fishes of medium to large size that have a fusiform body, lateral branchial clefts, and a tough usually dull gray skin roughened by minute tubercles and are typically active predators sometimes dangerous to humans
sharklike
ˈshärk-ˌlīk How to pronounce shark (audio)
adjective

Illustration of shark

Illustration of shark
  • 1 mako
  • 2 tiger
  • 3 thresher
  • 4 hammerhead
  • 5 great white

shark

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
: a rapacious crafty person who takes advantage of others often through usury, extortion, or devious means
loan sharks
2
: one who excels greatly especially in a particular field

shark

3 of 3

verb

sharked; sharking; sharks

transitive verb

1
archaic : to gather hastily
2
archaic : to obtain by some irregular means

intransitive verb

1
archaic : to practice fraud or trickery
2
archaic : sneak

Synonyms of shark

Relevance

Noun (2)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of shark in a Sentence

Noun (2) a card shark a shark at calculus being a new arrival in Hollywood, she was easy prey for the sharks in the movie business
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Like the volume of sharks in Maine and the variety, like the tiger shark, which was reeled in off the coast of Falmouth, Massachusetts, this week. — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 The species joins great whites and bull sharks to make up the three shark species responsible for most human attacks. — Mason Leib, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
Verb
From great whites and whale sharks to shark conservation and the truth behind 'Jaws,' this Shark Week special dives into one of the ocean's most misunderstood animals. — Sarah Scanlan, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026 Following Jaws' success, Benchley expressed regret over the story's impact on the public's fear of sharks and the decimation of shark populations, committing himself to shark conservation and education efforts. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shark

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English

Noun (2)

probably modification of German Schurke scoundrel

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1603, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shark was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing shark

Rhymes for shark

See All Rhymes for shark

Browse Nearby Words

shariʽa
shark
shark's mouth
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shark. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shark

1 of 2 noun
ˈshärk How to pronounce shark (audio)
: any of numerous marine fishes that have rough grayish skin and a skeleton made of cartilage, that usually prey on other animals and are sometimes dangerous to people, and that include some caught for the oil in their livers or for their hide from which a leather is made
sharklike
ˈshär-ˌklīk How to pronounce shark (audio)
adjective

shark

2 of 2 noun
1
: a sly greedy person who takes advantage of others
a loan shark
2
: a person who outdoes others especially in a certain area
a shark at arithmetic

More from Merriam-Webster on shark

Nglish: Translation of shark for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shark

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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