What does slink mean?
Slink means to move quietly and furtively, often as though trying to avoid being noticed. The word is especially effective when the movement suggests secrecy, timidity, or guilt: a person may slink through a doorway, slink away from a room, or slink around the edge of a crowd. Its unusual sound reinforces the idea of quiet, furtive motion. In some informal British and American usage, slink also means to steal or cheat, though sneak is much more common and neutral for that idea. Because slink has a strong narrative and literary flavor, it is often more expressive than a standard verb such as sneak, while also suggesting that the person’s intentions are questionable. The word is useful in descriptions of secretive behaviour, especially when the writer wants to convey both movement and motive rather than merely quietness.
verbTo move quietly and furtively, especially in a way that suggests an intention to avoid notice. In informal use, it can also mean to steal or cheat.
- To move stealthily or furtively.
- Informally: to steal or cheat.
"He slinked away before the others noticed him."
"The thief slinked through the empty corridor toward the office."
"They accused the company of slinking money out of the pension fund."
To slink is to move as if every shadow might expose you.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does slink come from?
The exact origin and historical development of slink are uncertain. It is generally treated as a Germanic word, with parallels in other Germanic languages, although its precise relationship to those forms cannot be stated with certainty. Modern usage divides between the longstanding sense of moving furtively and the informal sense of stealing or cheating.
How slink is actually used
The sense of moving furtively is literary or deliberately vivid in modern standard English. The sense meaning to steal or cheat is informal and varies considerably in regional usage; “sneak” is usually more neutral and more widely understood.
Easily confused with slink
Sneak is the more common word for moving quietly or entering without permission, while slink often emphasizes furtive, furtive-looking movement or, informally, dishonest acquisition.