snaky

American  

[sney-kee] / ˈsneɪ ki /

adjective

snakier, snakiest

1. of or relating to snakes.

2. abounding in snakes, as a place.

3. snakelike; twisting, winding, or sinuous.

4. venomous; treacherous or insidious.

   a snaky remark.

5. consisting of, entwined with, or bearing a representation of snakes or serpents, as a ring.

6. Australian Informal. irritable, angry, or spiteful.

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snaky British  

/ ˈsneɪkɪ /

adjective

1. of or like a snake; sinuous

2. treacherous or insidious

3. infested with snakes

4. informal angry or bad-tempered

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unsnaky
  adjective
• snakiness
  noun
• snakily
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of snaky

First recorded in 1560–70; snake + -y ¹

Example Sentences

On “Anatomical Fable of the Elements,” atop a snaky bassline and a throbbing beat, Ms. Muldrow poses questions: “Is your nose witness to the sweet life?”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

It couldn’t have helped the DOJ’s position that Boasberg is probably one of the most experienced jurists in the U.S. judiciary when it comes to dealing with this administration’s snaky tactics.

From Slate • Mar. 19, 2026

She added it was "almost snaky", starting gradually.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Meet the anhinga, a large water bird with a snaky neck that has joined other high-profile vagrant birds in recent years by making a rare appearance outside of its typical migration range.

From New York Times • May 4, 2023

She speeds up and leaves them behind, the quiet, well-oiled Datsun climbing easily up the snaky highway.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez