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

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

Much of the town’s reaction was predictable: “Big city evil has been slithering into Granbury,” said one post on social media.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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