sneak 1 of 3

1
as in to lurk
to move about in a sly or secret manner the little kids sneak around upstairs when they're supposed to be in bed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to infiltrate
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way sneak the topic into the conversation any way you can

Synonyms & Similar Words

sneak

2 of 3

adjective

sneak

3 of 3

noun

as in weasel
someone who acts in a sly and secret manner "Why, you little sneak," the mother exclaimed, "you made my birthday present right under my nose!"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word sneak distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of sneak are lurk, skulk, and slink. While all these words mean "to behave so as to escape attention," sneak may add an implication of entering or leaving a place or evading a difficulty by furtive or underhanded methods.

sneaked out early

When could lurk be used to replace sneak?

The words lurk and sneak can be used in similar contexts, but lurk implies a lying in wait in a place of concealment and often suggests an evil intent.

suspicious men lurking in alleyways

When is skulk a more appropriate choice than sneak?

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

something skulking in the shadows

Where would slink be a reasonable alternative to sneak?

The meanings of slink and sneak largely overlap; however, slink implies moving stealthily often merely to escape attention.

slunk around the corner

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 sneak
Verb
At one point, the family lived above a fancy dress shop, and Lloyd would sneak downstairs and dress up as various characters. Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 16 June 2025 Nor does the historical record show any murders or suicides occurring at that location — just a few mischievous high school kids sneaking up to the second floor, and a teenage bookstore employee playing his radio too loud and sometimes leaving early. Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 June 2025
Adjective
Get Ready: Katy Perry Has Released a Sneak Peek of Her New Song And the internet has receipts. Mehera Bonner, Marie Claire, 15 Mar. 2017
Noun
The savvy creature then used the vehicles as cover to launch a sneak attack on a group of unsuspecting birds gathered in a nearby home’s front yard. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 May 2025 Are zero-drop running shoes suitable for everyone? Shop the best zero-drop running shoes Get the low-down on these sneaks. Sara Coughlin, SELF, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for sneak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneak
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
  • Words change meaning over time, slang infiltrates the mainstream, and sometimes, a little creative license is acceptable.
    Jerry Weissman, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • Such attacks have already infiltrated U.S. water and wastewater systems, according to the non-profit think tank Center for Internet Security, which briefed law enforcement on Friday.
    Pierre Thomas, ABC News, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • American veterans and others have traveled to smaller, clandestine clinics for treatment to deal with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 29 June 2025
  • Gi-hun, who’d found his way back in the clandestine gaming complex (situated inside a mountain on a remote island), is Player 456 again among a new round of contestants.
    Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • But some, including pigeons, weasels, skunks, coyotes and most rodents, are excluded from such rules.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2025
  • In the heat of its bloodlust, the weasel had killed the entire flock.
    Louise Erdrich, New Yorker, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • Notifications ping, Slack channels light up, and deep work slips further away.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 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
  • Here, somehow the Dama survives being burned to death and manages to worm her way back into Hershel’s life.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 22 June 2025
  • Despite the gloomy overtones, Loznitsa’s powerful movie asserts that goodness hides within the confines of institutional control, worming its way through the boundaries of bureaucratic red tape in an effort to do some good.
    Eric Kohn, HollywoodReporter, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • Now, after Operation Midnight Hammer, arguably one of the most perfect covert military operations in U.S. history, who could argue? Even Trump’s most ardent critics had to give him credit.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2025
  • This deliberately allusive narrative style enables the author to elude the topic of Nazism—or at least to hint at it in a covert way, thus making the novel acceptable to a wide German audience at the time of its publication in 1968.
    Ombline Damy, JSTOR Daily, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • The types of animals vary, but monkeys, skunks, racoons and crocodiles are the most common, the data shows.
    Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 2025
  • While deer are the most common animal stuck by vehicles, raccoons, skunks, opossums, squirrels and countless birds also fall victim.
    Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 30 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sneak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneak. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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