slither

verb

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

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.
The video begins with a shoeless Kennedy, dressed in a button-down shirt, trousers, and a tie, approaching the snakes slowly, crouching down as the snakes slither into a corner of the patio. Mason Leib, ABC News, 27 May 2026 As the snakes leap, jump and slither in a bid to escape, Kennedy manages to grab one up in each hand, narrowly dodging their attempts to grab a mouthful of his skin. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 26 May 2026 After having his wedding night ruined, a finger and toe cut off and being buried alive, Jacob Elordi‘s Nate Jacobs faced his fate when a venomous rattlesnake slithered its way into the hole he was buried in and bit him. Lexi Carson, HollywoodReporter, 25 May 2026 The reptile slithered its way down the tube. Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for slither

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of slither was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slither.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slither. Accessed 29 May. 2026.

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

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