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 slinkBut the 30-stock Dow slinked towards recovery on Thursday, finishing up 0.04%, while the S&P 500 slid 0.09% and the Nasdaq Composite dipped 0.10%.—Julie Coleman, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2024 This setup will allow frigid Arctic air from Siberia to slink south-southeastward across Canada, eventually passing through customs at the U.S.-Canadian border in northern Minnesota this week.—Andrew Freedman, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024 Regrettably, the catchy moniker has slinked into our vocabulary, and we are seemingly stuck with it.—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024 Now, as hunting pressure ramps up, bucks are slinking deeper into thick cover.—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for slink
Sometimes, he's gotten invited to inaugural balls; other times, he's been able to sneak in.
—
Chelsea Brasted,
Axios,
17 Jan. 2025
And with a personal training certification and a degree in kinesiology, a wellness focus often sneaks into many aspects of my personal and professional life.
—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Jan. 2025
As this seduction of sorts happens, Hannah lurks in the background worried her child will end up disappointed, while also growing increasingly worried about Jim’s ever-encroaching mortality.
—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2025
If a former hitmaker hasn’t connected recently, their Brat Summer might be lurking around the corner.
Share