The first NIR fluorescent sensor for sulfide anions was constructed based on the displacement approach. The sensing ensemble is composed of a cyanine dye, a piperazine linker, an 8-aminoquinoline ligand, and copper. The favorable attributes of the sensor include a large NIR fluorescence turn-on signal in aqueous ethanol, high sensitivity, and high selectivity. The transition-metal-based displacement strategy may open an avenue for development of NIR fluorescent sensors for a wide variety of anion targets.