as in slugs
someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others
go and tell the snails in the back to hurry up
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in crawls
to move slowly
the highway construction work created a bottleneck that had cars snailing for the next five miles
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 snails
Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
The main thing to keep an eye out for with lettuce is slugs and snails.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026
Wormwood helps deter harmful pests like carrot flies and cabbage moths, as well as slugs and snails.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2026
Ripa asked at the time, inquiring about the awkward positioning of snails in the act.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Apr. 2026
Prickly pears sprout; snails emerge from shells.
—Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Its anatomy is unusual even compared to related snails.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
In both cases, the snails and their fossils mostly appear after water movement brings them to the surface — suggesting a larger hidden population living in rock crevices deep underground where water flows.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
The loss is mostly in native species; invasive snails are holding their own.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
At first, the video feed showed little more than brown mud pockmarked by burrowing worms and snails.
—Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
The main thing to keep an eye out for with lettuce is slugs and snails.
—Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 5 Apr. 2026
Wormwood helps deter harmful pests like carrot flies and cabbage moths, as well as slugs and snails.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2026
Ripa asked at the time, inquiring about the awkward positioning of snails in the act.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Apr. 2026
Prickly pears sprout; snails emerge from shells.
—Selina Denman, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Its anatomy is unusual even compared to related snails.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Mar. 2026
In both cases, the snails and their fossils mostly appear after water movement brings them to the surface — suggesting a larger hidden population living in rock crevices deep underground where water flows.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2026
The loss is mostly in native species; invasive snails are holding their own.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snails
Noun
-
It is usually only afflicted by slugs, which can be easily managed, or crown rot due to overwatering.—
Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano,
The Spruce,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The rose slugs are the larvae of the sawfly.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the book, Grace drags Rocky back to his part of the ship, exposing himself to the Eridian environment; in the film, Rocky crawls back while Grace is unconscious.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The Shops at Yale recently announced the return of the New Haven food crawls and have added a date in December, according to a statement.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Yankees and Giants played the official first game of the season, but the majority of teams began play on March 26 (with a few stragglers on March 27).—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Wolves commonly kill stragglers, but though some of these animals are weak, others are not.—
Frank Glaser,
Outdoor Life,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the war drags on, Americans are growing pessimistic about the economy, according to some surveys and polls.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
-
And in late February, just as attention began to shift away from Gaza, Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on Iran—a potentially epochal war that may end up dividing Jewish Americans no less than the Gaza war did, particularly if the conflict drags on and casualties mount.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The fuzzy-looking crawlers can cause irritation and a rash to anyone whose skin comes in direct contact with the barbed hairs that cover the caterpillar.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
31 Mar. 2026
-
These creepy crawlers cause itchy bites and are hard to kill.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The bottom line Concentration risk often creeps into your portfolio over time.—
Doug Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
But as Mecklenburg County’s sprawl creeps its way into Union County, leaders are looking for ways to preserve the area’s rural feel the farmland that supports it.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Your 6th House of Health takes focus with the nurturing Moon there, though Luna also pokes expensive Jupiter in your 3rd House of Distractions.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In April, ruby-red paintbrush pokes out of the ground, and in late summer, vibrant yellow rabbitbrush flowers join the mix.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Snails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snails. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
