slather

1 of 2

noun

slath·​er ˈsla-t͟hər 

: a great quantity

—often used in plural

slather

2 of 2

verb

slathered; slathering ˈsla-t͟hə-riŋ 

ˈslat͟h-riŋ

transitive verb

1

: to use or spend in a wasteful or lavish manner : squander

2

a

: to spread thickly or lavishly

slathered sunscreen on her skin

b

: to spread something thickly or lavishly on

slathered her skin with sunscreen

Examples of slather in a Sentence

Verb

We ate lobster slathered with butter.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This is because our hero stacker—that classic white-bread tomato sandwich with tomato and a slather of mayo—is all dependent on those ripe, juicy heirloom tomatoes plucked straight off the vine and cut into beefy slices. —Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 11 May 2025

When not enjoying this with the stew, toast a thick slice, slather with Irish butter, and top with your favorite preserves. —Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2025

Verb

More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined, making slathering on SPF essential to your health. —Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025

Active Time: 20 mins Total Time: 1 hr 30 mins Servings: 8 Think a pimiento cheese meatloaf is just the Southern spread slathered on a typical meatloaf? —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 18 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1843, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for slather

• gather
• lather
• rather