slink

verb \ ˈsliŋk \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

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

The problem, as CNN Money wrote this week, is that the rest of those nations didn't just decide to slink home without a trade deal after the US pulled out.

— z. byron wolf, CNN, "Donald Trump is not a very good global economic chess player," 13 Apr. 2018
If anything, both are cats — Eve domestic, Villanelle feral — recognizing the other from across a crowded room, slinking around the edges, waiting to see who pounces first.

— caroline framke, Vox, "BBC America’s Killing Eve is a deliciously twisted take on the spy vs. spy thriller," 8 Apr. 2018
Some of the dogs looked like they were being dragged, slinking down as the snow hit their faces.

— New York Times, "Snowstorm Pummels Eastern Seaboard," 22 Mar. 2018
Be big and loud, but avoid hazing moms with pups, and slink away — never sprint.

— vanessa hua, San Francisco Chronicle, "Close encounters of the coyote kind," 28 Mar. 2018
Performance artists slinked by in pairs, draped in what looked like long beige curtains embroidered with red flowers.

— sophia chen, WIRED, "Google's Quantum Computing Party Is as Fancy as Physics Gets," 14 Mar. 2018
These and thousands of other wildlife species are slinking, trotting and hopping toward endangerment or extinction.

— rick jervis, USA TODAY, "Endangered animals could get life-saving boost from oil, gas funds under new bill," 11 Mar. 2018
There were a few who noticed him slink in tonight, and none who wanted to give him any grief.

— nick corasaniti, New York Times, "On Stage Was Springsteen, in the Audience, Chris Christie," 18 Jan. 2018
If this were Model United Nations, the U.S. team would lose and slink back to school in embarrassment.

— heather hurlburt, Daily Intelligencer, "Grownups Are Not Running America’s Foreign Policy," 3 Mar. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

slink Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Related Words

crawl, creep, inch, worm;

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

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

slink

adjective

Definition of slink

: born prematurely or abortively

a slink calf

First Known Use of slink

1750

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SLINK Defined for English Language Learners

slink

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

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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slink

Definition of slink

Examples of slink in a Sentence

Recent Examples of slink from the Web

Origin and Etymology of slink

slink Synonyms

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

SLINK Defined for Kids

slink

Definition of slink for Students

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