Illustration of snapping turtle
- snapping turtle a
snapping turtle
noun
: either of two large American freshwater turtles (family Chelydridae) with a large head, powerful jaws, a long tail, and a strong musky odor:
a
: one (Chelydra serpentina) that has the head covered with smooth skin, has large plates in a double row on the underside of the tail, and is distributed from eastern Canada to Central America
Examples of snapping turtle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The famed snapping turtle was spotted basking in the Chicago River this week.
—
Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
The etchings reflect the 13-month lunar calendars the tribes used, with a different design on each of the 13 scales on a snapping turtle’s back.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
Anchored to what is called a seawall, a wetland ecosystem for a diverse range of wildlife — including beavers, muskrats, snapping turtles and all types of insects, bats, and fish — has been created by mostly volunteers.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
Texas alligator lizard Almost as scary-looking as the giant alligator gar and snapping turtle, the alligator lizard has a strong resemblance to a mini alligator.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 6 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for snapping turtle
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Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 31 May 2025
The etchings reflect the 13-month lunar calendars the tribes used, with a different design on each of the 13 scales on a snapping turtle’s back.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
Anchored to what is called a seawall, a wetland ecosystem for a diverse range of wildlife — including beavers, muskrats, snapping turtles and all types of insects, bats, and fish — has been created by mostly volunteers.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
Texas alligator lizard Almost as scary-looking as the giant alligator gar and snapping turtle, the alligator lizard has a strong resemblance to a mini alligator.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 6 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for snapping turtle
Cite this Entry
“Snapping turtle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/snapping%20turtle. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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