Slither

Slither is a term used to describe a smooth, sinuous, twisting or sliding motion. It is commonly associated with the movement of snakes and other limbless animals, and it is also used metaphorically to describe something that proceeds with a winding, creeping rhythm. In biology, slithering locomotion refers to how certain creatures propel themselves through waves of body contraction and lateral movement.

In popular culture, Slither has been used as a title for several works. The 2006 film Slither, directed by James Gunn, is an American science fiction horror comedy about an alien parasite that invades a small town, transforming residents into grotesque creatures. The film stars Elizabeth Banks and Michael Rooker and blends elements of horror with dark humor.

Slither.io is an online multiplayer browser game, released in 2016, in which players control a snake-like avatar. The objective is to grow by collecting glowing pellets while avoiding collisions with other players; if a player’s snake is defeated, it leaves behind remains that other players can consume to gain size.

Beyond these uses, slither also functions as a general descriptor for any movement that is sinuous or stealthy, and the term appears in various works of fiction and media to evoke a creeping, agile motion.