slink

American  

[slingk] / slɪŋk /

verb (used without object)

slunk, slank, slunk, slinking

1. to move or go in a furtive, abject manner, as from fear, cowardice, or shame.

   Synonyms:

   lurk, sneak, skulk

2. to walk or move in a slow, sinuous, provocative way.

---

verb (used with object)

slunk, slank, slunk, slinking

1. (especially of cows) to bring forth (young) prematurely.

noun

1. a prematurely born calf or other animal.

adjective

1. born prematurely.

   a slink calf.

slink British  

/ slɪŋk /

verb

1. (intr) to move or act in a furtive or cringing manner from or as if from fear, guilt, etc

2. (intr) to move in a sinuous alluring manner

3. (tr) (of animals, esp cows) to give birth to prematurely

---

noun

1. 1. an animal, esp a calf, born prematurely

   2. ( as modifier )

      slink veal

Other Word Forms

• outslink
  verb (used with object)
• slinkingly
  adverb
• unslinking
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of slink

First recorded before 1150; Middle English slynken (verb), Old English slincan “to creep, crawl”; cognate with Low German slinken, German schlinken

Explanation

When you slink, you move in a deliberately quiet and sneaky way. You might slink into your physics class, hoping the teacher won't notice how late you are. Kids playing hide and seek will sometimes slink around the house, quietly searching for good hiding spots, and wild animals tend to slink through the woods or fields when they're stalking prey or trying to avoid becoming prey themselves. Slink comes from the Old English word slincan, "to creep or crawl," which was mostly used to describe the movements of reptiles.

Example Sentences

But each time the net seemed to be closing in on Neukgu, he would slink off the radar.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

“They slink in without warning, do no immediate damage so far as one can tell and then begin their deadly work from within….”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

We walk out onto Grand Avenue or slink into the garage and drive away, afraid to see what is before our eyes — our society in the manner of its operation.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 29, 2025

Do you slink away and count on the courts to sort it out?

From Salon • May 13, 2025

She blocked him, and when he tried to slink away in another direction, she restrained him with a heavy paw until he stilled in defeat.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker

Related Words

• lurk
• meander
• prowl
• sidle
• skitter
• skulk
• slither
• sneak
• undulate