snake 1 of 2

noun

ˈsnāk How to pronounce snake (audio)
Definition of snakenext
1
as in serpent
a limbless reptile with a long body snakes are cold-blooded, so they regulate their body temperature by alternately basking in sunlight and seeking shade

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2
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others why, that dirty, rotten snake!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in traitor
one who betrays a trust or an allegiance what a snake she was—having an affair with my husband while I was in the hospital!

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snake

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to lurk
to move about in a sly or secret manner snaking softly through the brush

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2
as in to crawl
to move slowly with the body close to the ground commandos snaking through the grass toward the house

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of snake
Noun
By institutional convention, such a show would unfold chronologically; but as its curator, the Native designer Brian Johnson, notes, time is a snake swallowing its own tail. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 The shoes were a striking shade of deep purple and featured a unique snake skin design. — Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
The new location, at 5000 W 119th Street, Unit A143, in Town Center Crossing opened its doors Friday to a line snaking around the building, according to several posts on social media. — Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026 Long lines of vehicles snaked outside gas stations across Indonesia’s resort island of Bali this week after fuel deliveries were disrupted by a combination of technical problems, bad weather and surging demand, officials said Wednesday. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for snake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snake
  1. serpent
  2. jerk
  3. traitor
  4. lurk
  5. crawl
  6. viper
  7. dog
  8. sneak
Noun
  • Scarabs, serpents, vultures, lunar ornaments, ancient gods like Horus and Anubis carved from gold and lapis lazuli—all strategically placed on various points along the body.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2026
  • At least a computer might know that’s not a saxophone, hiding like a serpent beneath the piano bench.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of serpent
Noun
  • From award-winning jerk pork wraps to classic rice and peas, every bite celebrates our heritage.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Bella’s childhood friend Angus (Jake Simmance), a corporate jerk, condescendingly probes Johnny about his career.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of jerk
Noun
  • Abby became suspicious of Kuehl during a private conversation about possible traitors in the group.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Abraham and Szor, both Israeli filmmakers, have been denounced as traitors in Israel, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself has threatened to revoke their citizenship.
    — Justin Chang, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of traitor
Verb
  • An amateur astronomer harnessed artificial intelligence agents to find a previously undiscovered exoplanet lurking in publicly available data.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026
  • But trouble lurked in a left-field box seat — and at shortstop.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of lurk
Verb
  • On thinner material, that gives you a fighting chance at keeping heat and warpage under control without crawling along at a miserable pace.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The bystander told the woman to get down on the floor before crawling into the home beneath the heaviest heat and dragging her to safety, according to the fire department.
    — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of crawl
Noun
  • But almost from the beginning, some people questioned whether a Gaboon viper really could be slithering through the Orange County city.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • There were rattlesnakes and vipers in the rest of Canada, but no snakes here in except the harmless garter snake.
    — Paul Theroux, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of viper
Noun
  • Which dog breeds tend to live the longest If longevity is the priority, a handful of smaller breeds routinely post the longest lifespans, according to breed data compiled by Reader’s Digest.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Much has been made of Winter’s idiosyncratic star power, and as an extremely tall, wet-dog-handsome instrumental virtuoso with a one-of-a-kind voice and just enough self-aware wit and lacerating lyricism to keep it relatable, that’s indisputable.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of dog
Verb
  • But, the heartbreak would come sneaking around the bend over what might be the wildest 20 seconds of recent Big Ten memory, thanks to the insane final few minutes.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The basics include covering vents with mesh so embers can’t sneak in and ensuring every window and door is closed.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of sneak

Phrases Containing snake

Browse Nearby Words

snails
snake
snakebit
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Cite this Entry

“Snake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snake. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on snake

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about snake

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