Synonyms of slink

slink

verb

ˈsliŋk 

as in to sneak

to move about in a sly or secret manner

like a thief slinking about in the middle of the night

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sneak
• lurk
• slip
• slide
• mouse
• steal
• crawl
• skulk
• snake
• shirk
• tiptoe
• creep
• pussyfoot
• mooch
• worm
• edge
• pad
• inch
• ghost

Synonym Chooser

How is the word slink distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of slink are lurk, skulk, and sneak. While all these words mean "to behave so as to escape attention," slink implies moving stealthily often merely to escape attention.

slunk around the corner

When is lurk a more appropriate choice than slink?

While the synonyms lurk and slink are close in meaning, lurk implies a lying in wait in a place of concealment and often suggests an evil intent.

suspicious men lurking in alleyways

When might skulk be a better fit than slink?

In some situations, the words skulk and slink are roughly equivalent. However, skulk suggests more strongly cowardice or fear or sinister intent.

something skulking in the shadows

When can sneak be used instead of slink?

The synonyms sneak and slink are sometimes interchangeable, but sneak may add an implication of entering or leaving a place or evading a difficulty by furtive or underhanded methods.

sneaked out early

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of slink

More critics will slink out of the woodwork now, eager to 20/20 hindsight their way into Vonn’s decision. —Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026

Trish’s words efface Cannon’s, which slink off the page. —E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025

Cats and dogs — some stray, some nurtured — slink around the place projecting their own air of ownership, all part of the Kingdom’s makeshift ecosystem. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Nov. 2025

Either way, Invisigal is in the room listening to her friends debate her fate, noticeably slinking out as the door seemingly opens on its own. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2025