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

That this is all rather preposterous is revealed by asking one question: You think a soundly, twice-defeated Trump will just slither away — and not seek the nomination again when he’s in his 80s?

From Salon

Let’s just say the fireman’s pole that Susann’s publisher Bernard Geis makes new female hires slither down to gauge their willingness to put up with on-the-job sexual harassment is not a figment of Paul’s editorial license in “Scandalous Women” — out Tuesday.

From Los Angeles Times

But a slither of fallopian tube was accidentally left, prompting an ovary regrowth only found in an unrelated ultrasound scan.

From BBC

In Monsoon’s episode, musical notes soar through the air and slither around characters to detain them, all special effects that were added as CGI in postproduction.

From Seattle Times

Hundreds—maybe thousands—of snakes slither way below.

From Literature

Related Words

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