snaky

American  

[sney-kee] / ˈsneɪ ki /

adjective

snakier, snakiest

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.

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snaky British  

/ ˈsneɪkɪ /

adjective

1. of or like a snake; sinuous

2. treacherous or insidious

3. infested with snakes

4. informal angry or bad-tempered

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Other Word Forms

• snakily adverb
• snakiness noun
• unsnaky adjective

Etymology

Origin of snaky

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

Example Sentences

On “Anatomical Fable of the Elements,” atop a snaky bassline and a throbbing beat, Ms. Muldrow poses questions: “Is your nose witness to the sweet life?”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

It couldn’t have helped the DOJ’s position that Boasberg is probably one of the most experienced jurists in the U.S. judiciary when it comes to dealing with this administration’s snaky tactics.

From Slate • Mar. 19, 2026

She added it was "almost snaky", starting gradually.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

The Grand Prix winner of last year’s Cannes Critics Week, filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s snaky, surprising fable starts with a sneeze and explodes into a saga about bureaucracy, modernization and moral corruption.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 4, 2026

“She lives in a cave, up on those cliffs. If we get too close, her snaky heads will come down and start plucking sailors off the ship.”

From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan