serpent

noun

ˈsər-pənt How to pronounce serpent (audio)
Definition of serpentnext
1
as in snake
a limbless reptile with a long body an Aztec carving of a feathered serpent representing the god Quetzalcoatl

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in Satan
the supreme personification of evil often represented as the ruler of hell beware the temptations of the serpent

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in traitor
one who betrays a trust or an allegiance a serpent in their midst had betrayed the revolutionaries to the authorities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example 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 serpent But while critics deemed the character overly simplistic and an ultimately unbelievable representation of evil (Cathy is an allegory for the serpent in the garden of Eden, after all), Pugh and Kazan, however, took a very different approach. — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026 The serpents aren't the only unusual visitors popping up off Southern California's coast. — Lesley Marin, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026 The serpents hunt for fish in open water and can easily get caught in currents. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 The mystery of how the serpent ended up flying through the sky and straight onto a family’s outdoor morning tea was revealed when Wildlife SOS rescuers were called to the scene. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for serpent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for serpent
  1. snake
  2. Satan
  3. traitor
  4. viper
  5. devil
  6. Lucifer
Noun
  • The brand offers the boots in dark chocolate and black leather, black suede and white and brown snake print.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Ingratitude is indeed sharper than a serpent’s tooth, and McBride isn’t wrong, but since when has Hollywood not been a pit of snakes?
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of snake
Noun
  • Gibson also confirmed that Resurrection will include a depiction of Satan, portrayed in The Passion of the Christ by Rosalinda Celentano.
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 26 May 2026
  • Dante and Virgil escape Hell by clambering down Satan's monstrous hide and through Earth's center of gravity.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 11 May 2026
Definition of Satan
Noun
  • Aside from his surprise heartthrob status, the British comedian has been vocal about feeling anxious as a traitor.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Abby became suspicious of Kuehl during a private conversation about possible traitors in the group.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of traitor
Noun
  • But almost from the beginning, some people questioned whether a Gaboon viper really could be slithering through the Orange County city.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • There were rattlesnakes and vipers in the rest of Canada, but no snakes here in except the harmless garter snake.
    — Paul Theroux, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of viper
Noun
  • In Jennifer’s Body, Needy (Seyfried) is BFFs with the titular mean girl played by Fox, whose body becomes possessed by a succubus with a taste for teen boys after a botched sacrifice by a devil-worshipping boy band (led by Adam Brody).
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Behave yourself, buddy, or the little red devil will take you away!
    — Sanat Pai Raikar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of devil
Noun
  • O'Keefe said Lucifer would have likely been played by Freeman or Carrey.
    — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026
  • Her other credits include arcs on Burn Notice, Two and a Half Men, Suits, and Lucifer.
    — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026
Definition of Lucifer

Browse Nearby Words

sermons
serpent
serpentine
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Cite this Entry

“Serpent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serpent. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on serpent

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about serpent

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