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
Dark, wrinkly, and sweet—raisins sneak their way into many Southern dishes. Josh Miller, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2025 Twenty years after Vince Vaughn played a Washington, D.C., divorce lawyer with a penchant for sneaking into other people's parties in Wedding Crashers, the actor returned to the nation's capital and showed up somewhere his presence was quite welcome. Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 19 Apr. 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
Taiwanese officials have recently warned that China could launch a sneak attack under the guise of military exercises. Arkansas Online, 2 Apr. 2025 These sneaks are heavily cushioned for long strolls, traveling, and commuting to work. Jenifer Calle, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sneak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneak
Verb
  • Discovering your purpose doesn’t have to be complicated or grand, especially with the right guidance to help you to find what’s already lurking inside of you.
    Chris Westfall, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
  • But when threatening messages start popping up on Violet’s phone, an unseen enemy, lurking nearby, pushes her to poison her date.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • That group allegedly infiltrated 64 U.S. companies, laundering more than $866,000 through just ten of them.
    Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The disease itself is not deadly, but left untreated, the antibodies can infiltrate different parts of the body like the pancreas, lung or liver.
    David Oliver, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • He was allegedly held in a clandestine detention site and tortured by intelligence agents.
    Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Guests can order craft cocktails at the circular bar, and for those who indulge, there’s a small, clandestine cigar room just off the entrance.
    John Wogan, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • For my money, Spenser and that weasel Muños have something to do it with.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The beady-eyed weasel at the bar, claiming to be waiting for his sister?
    Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The audience—both the fictional one upstate and the real one in Manhattan—soon slips into a world where human-scale beach balls and painter’s buckets become a playground for physical investigation, where the tragicomedy of real life slips in through the cracks.
    Laura Regensdorf, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The 10-year Treasury yield slipped on Friday as investors weighed the latest developments on the global trade front, including new comments from U.S. President Donald Trump.
    Lisa Kailai Han,Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • This process has been a bit of a slog, with Google's models improving slowly while simultaneously worming their way into many beloved products.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 Apr. 2025
  • All the while, Xavier skulks along the margins of the play, worming his way closer to the actress by insinuating himself into the production.
    Joumana Khatib, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • After the unexpected death of the pope, Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running the covert process of choosing a new leader.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Those documents gave curious readers more details about Cold War-era covert U.S. operations in other nations, but did not initially lend credence to long-circulating conspiracy theories about who killed JFK.
    Josh Funk and Haya Panjwani, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Other wildlife like skunks, foxes and raccoons can also carry the virus.
    Carma Hassan, CNN, 3 Dec. 2024
  • Weasels, skunks, possum, snakes (to eat eggs), and all sorts of other common creatures will become regular visitors to your yard, mostly at night.
    Sal Gilbertie, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sneak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneak. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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