slither
- to slide down or along a surface, especially unsteadily, from side to side, or with some friction or noise: The box slithered down the chute.
- to go or walk with a sliding motion: The snake slithered across the path.
- to cause to slither or slide.
- a slithering movement; slide.
Origin of slither
Related Words for slithering
glide, slink, sneak, wriggle, crawl, skid, move, glissade, coast, skate, snake, slip, cower, gumshoe, lurk, meander, prowl, pussyfoot, shirk, sidleExamples from the Web for slithering
Contemporary Examples of slithering
He was slithering downward, bored, lonely, erratic, sending out thousands of text messages.
There are an estimated 30,000 of them, slithering through Miami and surrounding counties.
Lately, the pythons are slithering out of border wildlife areas, and into farmland.
Historical Examples of slithering
A squeaking and slithering, now greater than ever, rose above all other sounds.
Now, what will that chap be doing there, slithering about over the water?
The Ocean Cat's PawGeorge Manville Fenn
He heard the slithering sound of Lorenzo's sword being drawn.
The Saracen: Land of the InfidelRobert Shea
Out of the silence came the slithering step of some one walking in the sand.
Overland RedHenry Herbert Knibbs
Dragging his pony to a slithering halt, he leaped to the ground.
Steve YeagerWilliam MacLeod Raine
slither
- to move or slide or cause to move or slide unsteadily, as on a slippery surface
- (intr) to travel with a sliding motion
- a slithering motion
Word Origin for slither
Word Origin and History for slithering
slither
early 15c., variant of Middle English slidder "to slip, slide," from Old English slidrian "to slip, slide on a loose slope," a frequentative form of slidan "to slide" (see slide (v.)). For spelling change, cf. gather. Meaning "to walk in a sliding manner" is attested from 1848. In reference to reptile motion, attested from 1839. Related: Slithered; slithering.
slither
"slithering movement," 1861, from slither (v.).