snaky

[ sney-kee ]

adjective

, snak·i·er, snak·i·est.

1. of or relating to snakes.
2. abounding in snakes, as a place.
3. snakelike; twisting, winding, or sinuous.
4. venomous; treacherous or insidious:

   a snaky remark.

5. consisting of, entwined with, or bearing a representation of snakes or serpents, as a ring.
6. Australian Informal. irritable, angry, or spiteful.

snaky

/ ˈsneɪkɪ /

adjective

1. of or like a snake; sinuous
2. treacherous or insidious
3. infested with snakes
4. informal.
   angry or bad-tempered

Derived Forms

• ˈsnakily, adverb
• ˈsnakiness, noun

Other Words From

• snaki·ly adverb
• snaki·ness noun
• un·snaky adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of snaky¹

First recorded in 1560–70; snake + -y ¹

Example Sentences

The second majority-Black district that Louisiana drew, the 6th District, was suspiciously snaky when more compact majority-Black options were available.

From Slate

"So when everyone's talking about snaky hips and stuff, you know what, bring it on. Any opportunity, I'm throwing it."

From BBC

Since the trumpeter’s shape-shifting career encompassed so many phases and styles, we’ve decided to focus on just one: the era known as “Electric Miles,” starting in 1968 and continuing for more than 20 years, when he embraced electric instruments and stubborn, snaky grooves, in the process basically drawing up a blueprint for the genre now known as jazz-rock fusion.

From New York Times

He gave the instruction allowing a 10-2 verdict after jurors asked him to remind them of the testimony of a man who called Spacey a “slippery, snaky” predator who had grabbed his crotch so forcefully while he was driving to Elton John’s gala ball that he almost ran off the road.

From Seattle Times

Meet the anhinga, a large water bird with a snaky neck that has joined other high-profile vagrant birds in recent years by making a rare appearance outside of its typical migration range.

From New York Times