Synonyms of snail

snail 1 of 2

noun

ˈsnāl 

as in slug

someone who moves slowly or more slowly than others

go and tell the snails in the back to hurry up

Synonyms & Similar Words

• slug
• crawler
• slowpoke
• lingerer
• laggard
• straggler
• plodder
• dawdler
• dragger
• loiterer
• lagger
• delayer
• dallier
• latecomer
• sluggard
• loafer
• idler
• slouch
• lazybones
• procrastinator
• lounger

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• speedster
• hustler
• scrambler
• speeder
• rusher
• go-getter
• hurrier

snail

2 of 2

verb

as in to drag

to move slowly

the highway construction work created a bottleneck that had cars snailing for the next five miles

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drag
• crawl
• creep
• poke
• shuffle
• limp
• inch
• ooze
• slouch
• nose
• plod
• creak (along)
• trudge
• tramp
• shamble
• lumber

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• race
• speed
• fly
• sail
• float
• glide
• zip
• whiz
• tear
• hurry

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of snail

Noun

And those kelp forests are—or were—marvels of diversity, providing a shelter for a wild array of ocean creatures from jeweled top sea snails to barrel-bodied harbor seals. — Joseph Ogilvy, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026

The serum has a lightweight, salmon-pink gel texture that goes on clear, with a slightly slippery consistency that reminds me of snail mucin. — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 26 Oct. 2026

Verb

The northern part of the island was at a standstill, schools closed, traffic snailing down the motorway. — Ariel Saramandi, The Dial, 29 July 2025

The two perpetual calendar counters are also snailed, except for the central section of the one located at 9 o'clock. — Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025

Phrases Containing snail

• snail mail