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Glite Dictionary
to slither

to slither

32 4.3
To move smoothly and quietly like a snake along the ground
  • verb
  • /ˈslɪðər/
: deslizarse
  • Finally, the python uncurls -- it must be twelve feet long -- and slithers away.
  • slither away
  • snakes slither

Leaves the door, leaves that out for Grant to kind of slither through.

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Examples

  • One becomes a glorified bureaucrat, slithering up the greasy pole.

    Academic text (2010)

  • With startling speed, she slithered around Miranda's shaking knees up and into the basket.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • You are going to slither out of bed.

  • Did you see them slither away?

    Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie (2024)

  • Dozens of writhing snakes drop out of the closet and slither onto the ground.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • This hooded viper simply slithers into the forest.

    Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

  • It left very peculiar tracks, as if two enormous snakes had slithered past.

    The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980)

  • I watched the snake slither silently across the warm sand.

  • The cat tried to slither through the narrow gap in the fence.

  • As the thief attempted to escape, he had to slither past the security guard.

Synonyms

to slip
vsto slither
800 2.3

To move quietly and easily, often without being noticed

focuses on smooth secret motion along a surface rather than accidental motion
to slide
vsto slither
523 1.0

To move smoothly along a surface

adds quiet, secret intent to the same smooth surface movement
to wiggle
vsto slither
77 1.0

To move with small, quick movements from side to side or up and down

contrasts with smooth, quiet gliding along a surface rather than quick small moves
to creep
vsto slither
37 2.5

To move slowly and quietly with the body low to the ground

stresses smooth, quiet gliding along a surface rather than merely slow low movement
to slink
vsto slither
26 6.7

To move quietly and carefully to avoid being seen

adds smooth surface motion to the cautious secret movement
to worm
vsto slither
14 4.6

To move by twisting and wriggling to get through a small space

focuses on smooth, quiet gliding rather than twisting or wriggling
slithering
vsto slither
3 4.3

Moving smoothly and quietly like a snake

is the identical action presented in a different grammatical form
wriggling
vsto slither
2 3.4

Moving with small twisting and squirming movements like a worm

is about smooth, quiet surface movement rather than active twisting
to ghost
vsto slither
2 6.8

To move quietly and smoothly so people do not notice

emphasizes movement along a surface as well as stealth, not only quiet motion
to snedging
vsto slither
  • UK
9.9

To move slowly and quietly while looking around

is more about secret, smooth surface motion than leisure or searching

How Smoothly

to glide
78 2.9
to slither
32 4.3
slide
63 1.0
slip
39 1.0

Surface Forms

slither infinitive
slithered past
slithered past participle
slithering present participle
slithers third person singular

Etymology

Slither goes back to old words that meant 'to slide' and is like the familiar words slide and slip. Think of a snake sliding along the ground quietly, which is why to slither means to move smoothly and often secretly.