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Glite Dictionary
to slather

to slather

15 6.9
Spread a thick layer of a wet thing like sauce or sunscreen on a surface
  • verb
  • /ˈslæðər/
  • Informal
translation icon : untar
  • Before grilling, he always slathers the ribs with a spicy barbecue sauce.
  • slather on sunscreen
  • slather in butter
  • slather with cream

And then comes the part where I slather my entire body with body butter.

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Examples

  • The weather remained cruel, and the land looked blighted, the fields slathered with water.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • I opened tubs of soft butter and slathered it all over my belly, legs, and arms.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Oh my gosh, this is the best cream to slather on.

  • And then comes the part where I slather my entire body with body butter.

    Tati

  • All right, I'm gonna go slather myself in oil.

    Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)

  • Maybe we should slather her with some cocoa butter.

    Annabelle (2014)

  • Then I slather on a moisturizer and let it soak in for a minute.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Her exposed skin is slathered with the strongest possible sunblock.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • "Sweet Jesus!" he exclaimed, slathering suntan lotion over his arms.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Heather recited the evening's specials as they ate rolls slathered with butter.

    Fiction book (2002)

Synonyms

to apply
vsto slather
263 1.3

Put a substance onto a surface to cover it

uses a thicker more generous coating rather than simply putting it on
to smear
vsto slather
63 3.7

To spread a substance over a surface in a messy way

spreads thickly or liberally rather than focusing on messiness
to daub
vsto slather
3 8.1

To cover a surface roughly with a thick sticky substance

spreads material thickly or liberally without suggesting rough or careless action
to smear sunscreen
vsto slather
3.3

Spread sunscreen thickly on the skin with your hands

spreads a substance liberally and thickly without implying messiness
to daube
vsto slather
9.9

To smear something roughly with paint, plaster, or another soft wet material

spreads substance thickly or liberally rather than emphasizing roughness
to besmear
vsto slather
9.9

To cover something with a sticky or greasy substance

spreads a substance thickly or liberally rather than just coating
to smear paint
vsto slather
4.0

To spread paint on a surface in a messy, uneven way

spreads thickly or liberally rather than implying messy brushwork
to circumfuse
vsto slather
9.9

To spread a substance all around something, like light or scent

spreads thickly or liberally rather than surrounding or pouring around

Antonyms

to thin
38 1.4

To become less thick or crowded, for example a crowd

How Thick

to slather
  • Informal
15 6.9
to coat
105 2.8
to spread
664 1.6
to smear
63 3.7
to dab
11 2.8

Surface Forms

slather infinitive
slathered past
slathered past participle
slathering present participle
slathers third person singular

Etymology

The word slather probably grew from the simpler word lather, which means soap foam, with an extra 's' to suggest a lot or a messy covering. So to slather something is to cover it 'thickly' or 'liberally', like putting a big, messy layer of sauce or butter on food.