slink

play

verb \ ˈsliŋk \

Definition of slink

slunk play \ˈsləŋk\ also slinked play \ˈsliŋ(k)t\; slinking

intransitive verb

1 :to go or move stealthily or furtively (as in fear or shame) :steal

2 :to move in a sinuous provocative manner

transitive verb

:to give premature birth to —used especially of a domestic animal

a cow that slinks her calf

See slink defined for English-language learners

See slink defined for kids

Examples of slink in a Sentence

He slinked away in shame.
like a thief slinking about in the middle of the night

Recent Examples of slink from the Web

And Cena was allowed to celebrate all around the ring as Corbin slinked away.

— baltimoresun.com, "Lesnar retains title in wild SummerSlam main event," 21 Aug. 2017
His physicality is always interesting; watching him slink about clutching an attaché case adds a delicious hint of suspense.

— patti restivo, Laurel Leader, "Bundles of energy in APL Drama Club's latest," 17 Aug. 2017
The howler monkeys slink like cats through the canopy, swiveling their heads to look for danger.

— sam kean, Science | AAAS, "When will yellow fever strike Brazil again? Monkeys and mosquitoes hold clues," 17 Aug. 2017
This is a point center and sophisticated post threat who slinks often into open spaces, subverting the opponent’s expectations and attacking a defense from within.

— rob mahoney, SI.com, "Denver Is Quietly Building an Offensive Juggernaut," 15 Aug. 2017
Miami’s special-teams coach is hoping to slink into the building unnoticed, and hoping Thursday’s game-film malfunctions on replay.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "What did we learn? Dolphins QB Jay Cutler looks debonair on the sideline," 10 Aug. 2017
As any fan of the popular country music group, the Zac Brown Band, knows, listening to their upbeat tracks can be the difference between slinking into a bad mood slump and feeling empowered to power through your day.

— perri ormont blumberg, Southern Living, "Watch Zac Brown Surprise Paralyzed Teen Fan at Hospital," 20 July 2017
The tune moves through peaks and valleys, with swirling drones smacking into tricky tempos, slaloming riffs, and slinking trombone, and then dissolves into a mass of electronic static.

— peter margasak, Chicago Reader, "With Putting Off Death, their first album in six years, veteran art-rock oddballs Cheer-Accident continue to confound," 20 July 2017
A few years after the blood drained out of the French Revolution, many of its most fierce-eyed followers slinked away and feigned ignorance about cheering as the guillotine blade grew dull by overuse.

— fred dickey, sandiegouniontribune.com, "How coddling and cocooning today's youths can lead to violence," 8 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'slink.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of slink

Middle English, from Old English slincan to creep; akin to Old English slingan to worm, twist

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

slink Synonyms

Synonyms

lurk, mooch, mouse, pussyfoot, shirk, skulk, slide, sneak, slip, snake, steal

Related Words

crawl, creep, edge, inch, worm; ghost, pad, tiptoe

Synonym Discussion of slink

lurk, skulk, slink, sneak mean to behave so as to escape attention. lurk implies a lying in wait in a place of concealment and often suggests an evil intent.

- suspicious men lurking in alleyways

skulk suggests more strongly cowardice or fear or sinister intent.

- something skulking in the shadows

slink implies moving stealthily often merely to escape attention.

- slunk around the corner

sneak may add an implication of entering or leaving a place or evading a difficulty by furtive or underhanded methods.

- sneaked out early

slink

noun

Definition of slink

:the young of an animal (such as a calf) brought forth prematurely; also :the flesh or skin of such an animal

First Known Use of slink

1607

slink

adjective

Definition of slink

:born prematurely or abortively

a slink calf

First Known Use of slink

1750

SLINK Defined for English Language Learners

slink

play

verb

Definition of slink for English Language Learners

: to move in a way that does not attract attention especially because you are embarrassed, afraid, or doing something wrong

SLINK Defined for Kids

slink

play

verb \ ˈsliŋk \

Definition of slink for Students

slunk \ˈsləŋk\; slinking

:to move or go by or as if by creeping especially so as not to be noticed (as in fear or shame)

… he stuck his tail between his legs and slunk swiftly away …
—Jean Craighead George, Julie of the Wolves

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See words that rhyme with slink Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for slink Spanish Central: Translation of slink Nglish: Translation of slink for Spanish speakers

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Origin and Etymology of slink

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Synonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of slink

slink

Definition of slink

First Known Use of slink

slink

Definition of slink

First Known Use of slink

SLINK Defined for English Language Learners

slink

Definition of slink for English Language Learners

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slink

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