slither

verb

slith·​er ˈsli-t͟hər How to pronounce slither (audio)
slithered; slithering; slithers

intransitive verb

1
: to slide on or as if on a loose gravelly surface
2
: to slip or slide like a snake

transitive verb

: to cause to slide

Examples of slither in a Sentence

The snake slithered through the garden. To get under the porch, I lay on my stomach and slithered like a snake. She slithered quietly into the room. He slithered his hand around her waist.
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.
Now, in the franchise’s first television offering, similar creatures crash-land on Earth from a spaceship and crawl and slither into a future version of our world, dominated by cutthroat corporations such as the one that designed Wendy as the next step in human consciousness. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 23 July 2025 According to World Atlas, a gopher snake once slithered aboard a motorboat on Lake Pleasant, and rattlesnakes have been filmed swimming across the surface. Olivia Rose, AZCentral.com, 22 July 2025 On July 1, a snake slithered its way onto a Virgin Australia flight from Melbourne to Brisbane, per the Associated Press and ABC News. Colson Thayer, People.com, 10 July 2025 Literally every animal that can fly, walk, crawl or slither into your yard will do so at some point to eat your chickens, their eggs, and their food. Sal Gilbertie, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slither

Word History

Etymology

Middle English slideren, from Old English slidrian, frequentative of slīdan to slide

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of slither was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slither.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slither. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

slither

verb
slith·​er ˈslit͟h-ər How to pronounce slither (audio)
1
: to slide or cause to slide on or as if on a loose gravelly surface
2
: to slip or slide like a snake

More from Merriam-Webster on slither

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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