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

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

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

Related Words

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