as in to sneak
to move about in a sly or secret manner like a thief slinking about in the middle of the night

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word slink distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of slink are lurk, skulk, and sneak. While all these words mean "to behave so as to escape attention," slink implies moving stealthily often merely to escape attention.

slunk around the corner

When is lurk a more appropriate choice than slink?

While the synonyms lurk and slink are close in meaning, lurk implies a lying in wait in a place of concealment and often suggests an evil intent.

suspicious men lurking in alleyways

When might skulk be a better fit than slink?

In some situations, the words skulk and slink are roughly equivalent. However, skulk suggests more strongly cowardice or fear or sinister intent.

something skulking in the shadows

When can sneak be used instead of slink?

The synonyms sneak and slink are sometimes interchangeable, but sneak may add an implication of entering or leaving a place or evading a difficulty by furtive or underhanded methods.

sneaked out early

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of slink On the final stretch into the town, fruit sellers latched onto the sides, vendors perched in the doorways, and school kids rode a few meters before slipping down and slinking off towards their homes. Monisha Rajesh, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2024 And those remarkable clothes slowly, slowly slinking their way down that famous spiral. Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2024 If hope went away after the Obamas left town, and is slinking back only now . . . Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2024 Perhaps there are older audiences who thought that after spending time at the prison misleadingly known as Camp Cupcake, Martha Stewart slunk off into embarrassed obscurity. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 See all Example Sentences for slink 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slink
Verb
  • The TikTok clip capturing Via’s reaction has garnered millions of views, with many parents chiming in about their own experiences sneaking pop culture references into baby names.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
  • When ranked for entertainment and recreation, Honolulu, San Diego, and Tampa sneak into the top 10.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • In the clip of the cobra's removal, Rossouw lifts the pillow the venomous snake is hiding under to show viewers that the reptile is lurking under the bed covers.
    Kelli Bender, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024
  • And the same goes for the giant clown animatronics lurking under staircases, the big-screen animations of a bloody sack and an ax-carrying Santa walking through a snowy forest, and the ghostly pirate statues set up inside the empty basement pool, writes Piet Levy.
    Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The Dow Jones Industrial Average declined for a fourth day, slipping 0.35%.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
  • Instead, it's recommended to hang Christmas lights using a ladder to reduce the risk of accidentally slipping, tripping, or falling from the roof.
    Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Yip says features and design elements, everything like a pocket placement to how a jacket may work with gloves—or even how smooth or stiff the zipper sliding action is—is all under consideration when designing.
    Tim Newcomb, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
  • For the Yankees, adding Bregman would slide Jazz Chisholm Jr. over to second base allowing the Astros legend to play third base.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near slink

Cite this Entry

“Slink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slink. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on slink

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