as in to sneak
to move about in a sly or secret manner like a thief slinking about in the middle of the night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word slink distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of slink are lurk, skulk, and sneak. While all these words mean "to behave so as to escape attention," slink implies moving stealthily often merely to escape attention.

slunk around the corner

When is lurk a more appropriate choice than slink?

While the synonyms lurk and slink are close in meaning, lurk implies a lying in wait in a place of concealment and often suggests an evil intent.

suspicious men lurking in alleyways

When might skulk be a better fit than slink?

In some situations, the words skulk and slink are roughly equivalent. However, skulk suggests more strongly cowardice or fear or sinister intent.

something skulking in the shadows

When can sneak be used instead of slink?

The synonyms sneak and slink are sometimes interchangeable, but sneak may add an implication of entering or leaving a place or evading a difficulty by furtive or underhanded methods.

sneaked out early

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 slink Instead, slink slowly down the gentle river on a flat bamboo raft, drifting beneath tropical foliage. Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 3 June 2025 Gregory tries to slink away (Daia’s impersonation was too good), but Amber recognizes the stealthy walk as that of the delivery driver who was too chicken to deliver a pizza to her door, instead leaving it on the sidewalk. Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 3 Apr. 2025 Imagine a Florida panther slinking its way 400 miles (645 kilometers) from the Big Cypress Swamp, in the southwest part of the state, to Okefenokee Swamp, on Florida’s northern border with Georgia, without ever being spotted by a human. Reed Frederick Noss, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2025 D’Annunzio slunk back to Italy the following month with a bombastic air of satisfaction, of a mission accomplished, and lived in palatial isolation. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slink
Verb
  • Cane then sneaks up from behind and kills Grady’s men, freeing his father.
    Keith Langston, People.com, 21 June 2025
  • Universal Studios Florida began its iteration of the attraction in 1990, SyFy noted, featuring, of course, a (mechanical) great white shark that snuck up on riders of the boat tour.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • MacBook Pro’s Faster Connectivity Alongside the M5 upgrade offering a 15 to 20 percent uplift in pure performance, another speedy upgrade is lurking inside the spec leaks of the next macOS laptop, namely Wi-Fi 7.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
  • According to police estimates, there are over 450 active gangs, whose memberships total more than 45,000, lurking in Los Angeles alone.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Her first exposure to stand-up was when, in eighth grade, a friend slipped her a Margaret Cho DVD during a church sermon.
    Rachel Brodsky, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
  • Inside each room, guests can slip into traditional Japanese house garb (provided complimentary by the hotel), admire modern decor by designer Tony Chi, or take a dip in the jacuzzi-style tub.
    Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 June 2025
  • Andrew Nembhard is expected to slide into the starting point guard role.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slink. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on slink

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