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

Wayne LaPierre may have won the week, and he may slither away without Congress doing anything this time around.

From The Daily Beast

But as is frequently the case, the Sandy Hook conspiracy theories would eventually slither toward more sinister territory.

From The Daily Beast

On the day the Sun-Times finally sank, an Ontario court rejected Breeden's effort to slither out of my libel suits.

From The Daily Beast

They curve up all together like a glittering bow and slither down again.

From Project Gutenberg

You can slither pine-needles through your fingers as you discuss, too, and it helps you to think.

From Project Gutenberg

We slither and slide to the bottom of the pit and gather fragments of steel.

From Project Gutenberg

Up comes the deck in that fainting swoon backwards—then down it fades in that indescribable slither forwards.

From Project Gutenberg

A dimness comes over one's mind: a sort of stupefaction owing to the wind and the relentless slither-and-rearing of the ship.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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