slather

1 of 2

noun

slath·​er ˈsla-t͟hər How to pronounce slather (audio)
: a great quantity
often used in plural

slather

2 of 2

verb

slathered; slathering ˈsla-t͟hə-riŋ How to pronounce slather (audio)
ˈslat͟h-riŋ

transitive verb

1
: to use or spend in a wasteful or lavish manner : squander
2
a
: to spread thickly or lavishly
slathered sunscreen on her skin
b
: to spread something thickly or lavishly on
slathered her skin with sunscreen

Examples of slather in a Sentence

Verb We ate lobster slathered with butter.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
To top it off, slather with cream cheese frosting and sprinkle with pecans. Patricia S York, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025 About an hour ferry ride from Milazzo, Vulcano lures visitors with its active volcano, Gran Cratere, and open-air mud baths just steps from the port, where bathers slather on the mineral-rich goodness before rinsing in the sea. Nicky Swallow, Travel + Leisure, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
The classic diner serves huge portions of affordable fare that tastes like your grandmother made it, including stacks of pancakes slathered in butter and maple syrup and omelets crammed with fresh ingredients. Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025 The bread is broiled, slathered in a homemade fondue-like beer cheese sauce, then broiled once more to create a toast that’s crunchy on the bottom and lusciously-creamy on top. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slather

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1843, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of slather was in 1843

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slather. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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