Illustration of water moccasin
- water moccasin 1
water moccasin
noun
1
: a venomous semiaquatic pit viper (Agkistrodon piscivorus) chiefly of the southeastern U.S. that is closely related to the copperhead
called also cottonmouth, cottonmouth moccasin
2
: a harmless American colubrid water snake (genus Nerodia) resembling the true water moccasin
Examples of water moccasin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Copperhead snake size How to identify a cottonmouth snake
Cottonmouths (also known as water moccasins) are venomous reptiles that are almost always found near water, basking in the sun on rocks, branches or along the water’s edge.
—
Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 11 July 2025
Rescuers maneuvering through challenging terrain, high waters and snakes including water moccasins continued their desperate search for the missing, including 10 girls and a counselor from the camp.
—Brit Morse, Fortune, 7 July 2025
Cottonmouths, also known as water moccasins, have brown, dark red or tan bands, and can be aggressive while being defensive.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
The cottonmouth, or water moccasin, is the most venomous of Tennessee's four snakes, but they are limited in where they are found, living in aquatic and wetland habitats like swamps, marshes, drainage ditches, ponds, lakes and streams, Powers explained.
—Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 13 June 2025
About 150,000 dogs in the United States are bitten by venomous snakes every year, including rattlesnakes, copperheads, and water moccasins, according to the WSU article.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Nothing venomous—water moccasin, timber rattlesnake . .
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 17 June 2025
That told them that the snake was likely a venomous adult water moccasin.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2024
Among them are the rattlesnake, cottonmouth (or water moccasin), copperhead and coral snake.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 6 June 2024
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Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 11 July 2025
Rescuers maneuvering through challenging terrain, high waters and snakes including water moccasins continued their desperate search for the missing, including 10 girls and a counselor from the camp.
—Brit Morse, Fortune, 7 July 2025
Cottonmouths, also known as water moccasins, have brown, dark red or tan bands, and can be aggressive while being defensive.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
The cottonmouth, or water moccasin, is the most venomous of Tennessee's four snakes, but they are limited in where they are found, living in aquatic and wetland habitats like swamps, marshes, drainage ditches, ponds, lakes and streams, Powers explained.
—Gabrielle Chenault, Nashville Tennessean, 13 June 2025
About 150,000 dogs in the United States are bitten by venomous snakes every year, including rattlesnakes, copperheads, and water moccasins, according to the WSU article.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
Nothing venomous—water moccasin, timber rattlesnake . .
—Lizz Schumer, People.com, 17 June 2025
That told them that the snake was likely a venomous adult water moccasin.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2024
Among them are the rattlesnake, cottonmouth (or water moccasin), copperhead and coral snake.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 6 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“Water moccasin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/water%20moccasin. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
water moccasin
noun
water moc·ca·sin
-ˌmäk-ə-sən 
: a venomous semiaquatic pit viper (Agkistrodon piscivorus) of the southern United States closely related to the copperhead
called also cottonmouth, cottonmouth moccasin
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