slither

[ slith-er ]

verb (used without object)

1. to slide down or along a surface, especially unsteadily, from side to side, or with some friction or noise:

   The box slithered down the chute.

2. to go or walk with a sliding motion:

   The snake slithered across the path.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to slither or slide.

noun

1. a slithering movement; slide.

slither

/ ˈslɪðə /

verb

1. to move or slide or cause to move or slide unsteadily, as on a slippery surface
2. intr to travel with a sliding motion

noun

1. a slithering motion

Other Words From

• slither·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of slither¹

1150–1200; Middle English slitheren, variant of sliddren, Old English slid ( e ) rian, frequentative of slīdan to slide; -er ⁶

Word History and Origins

Origin of slither¹

Old English slidrian, from slīdan to slide

Example Sentences

If an oarfish happens to swim up to the ocean’s surface, a sailor would see a long slithering creature with spiky protrusions on its head and could believe it was a sea monster, Paig-Tran said.

From Los Angeles Times

With an unblocked defender blowing up the play in the backfield, Herbert cut back to his left, slithering through the defense for a four-yard touchdown.

From Los Angeles Times

Unbeknownst to us though, the real Chalamet, incognito in a mask and baseball hat, slithers through the crowd like an undetected chosen one, or like his character, Lisan al Gaib in “Dune.”

From Salon

The border wall stretched out like a snake slithering up and down hills to the horizon.

From Los Angeles Times

But a snake slithering across the top step of the dugout when your team is trailing by six runs in the fifth inning of a National League Championship Series game?

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crawl
• glide
• skid
• slink
• sneak
• wriggle