snake 1 of 2

noun

ˈsnāk How to pronounce snake (audio)
Definition of snakenext
1
as in serpent
a limbless reptile with a long body snakes are cold-blooded, so they regulate their body temperature by alternately basking in sunlight and seeking shade

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2
as in dog
a person whose behavior is offensive to others why, that dirty, rotten snake!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in traitor
one who betrays a trust or an allegiance what a snake she was—having an affair with my husband while I was in the hospital!

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snake

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to lurk
to move about in a sly or secret manner snaking softly through the brush

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2
as in to crawl
to move slowly with the body close to the ground commandos snaking through the grass toward the house

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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 snake
Noun
Twisting tube slides and slippery body slides snake through the indoor and outdoor water parks. — Alicia Underlee Nelson, Midwest Living, 15 July 2026 Hathaway’s jewelry consisted of a silver set of cuffs and coordinating silver studs in the shape of snakes with emerald eyes. — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 14 July 2026
Verb
Fuel rationing has been introduced in many regions, with hourslong queues of cars snaking beside roads. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 Fuel rationing has been introduced in many Russian regions, with hours-long queues of cars snaking beside roads. — Dasha Litvinova, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for snake
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snake
  1. serpent
  2. dog
  3. traitor
  4. lurk
  5. crawl
  6. viper
  7. jerk
  8. sneak
Noun
  • According to the ancient Greeks, a mighty serpent called Ophion incubated an enormous egg that hatched into the universe and all its inhabitants.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
  • There is a legend that Prince Albert presented her with a multi-stone serpent ring when they were engaged, and Victoria was buried with the ring.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 6 July 2026
Definition of serpent
Noun
  • On Saturday, rescue crews aided by dogs and detectors found signs of life, confirming that at least one survivor was still trapped beneath the rubble.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • Most famously, in 1966 the trophy was found underneath a hedge by a dog called Pickles a week after thieves had taken it from Westminster Central Hall, London, following England’s victory.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of dog
Noun
  • Those who opposed the coup, like Tom Keith's grandfather, are still often thought of as traitors, just as his distant relatives are.
    — Lee Cowan, CBS News, 12 July 2026
  • Irina and Raskova will enjoy a long, successful professional collaboration, purging Star City of traitors and threats and bringing down Petrovsky in a plot that leads to his ending his life in ignominy, having confessed to crimes against the state.
    — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 10 July 2026
Definition of traitor
Verb
  • Helen and Daniel also spend some time lurking on the dark web, looking for an audio recording of the final minutes before Charlotte crashed.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • Beneath all the splendor, the couture, the balls, and the opera lurked an undercurrent of hatred, one that would fester and erupt in ways both insidious and catastrophic.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Definition of lurk
Verb
  • Tents As a teenager, crawling into a small A-frame tent was a rite of passage.
    — Clay Abney, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2026
  • With fervent editing, careful scene geography, and assured direction, the walk before the run can be tense enough to send viewers crawling out of their seats, willing the fugitive onscreen to get a move on already.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026
Definition of crawl
Noun
  • Hassabis, who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2024 for pioneering the use of AI in protein prediction, is based in London and has largely avoided the viper pit created by the bare-knuckle AI race playing out in Silicon Valley.
    — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 15 July 2026
  • During his famous trials, Hercules encountered Echidna, who was half maiden and half viper.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
Definition of viper
Noun
  • Led and inspired by Chef Wayne Sharpe, this fast Jamaican restaurant serves iconic island meals like jerk chicken, jerk shrimp, vegan jerk, pineapple plantains, rice and peas, and Jamaican patties.
    — Alexandra Phelps July 15, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026
  • Bates plans to expand that menu in the new brick-and-mortar restaurant, adding dishes like jerk catfish pasta and Louisiana Cajun cream sauce over dirty rice.
    — Joey Schamber, jsonline.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • With that, though, will come more possession and more opportunities for France to sneak a goal in at some point.
    — Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026
  • Argentina will be heavy favorite against a Switzerland team that reached the quarterfinals after narrowly sneaking past Colombia in a penalty shootout last time out.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of sneak

Phrases Containing snake

Browse Nearby Words

snails
snake
snakebit
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Cite this Entry

“Snake.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snake. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on snake

Nglish: Translation of snake for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about snake

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