1
as in snakes
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 traitors
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
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Recent Examples of serpents
Laocoön and His Sons, an exquisite marble sculpture of the legendary Trojan priest writhing in agony as he’s attacked by sea-serpents, was first unearthed in the early sixteenth-century, the only missing piece his right arm.
—
Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
Were a lot of serpents biting people in those days.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
Frenzied shapes—sparks, ribbons, spirals, glyphs, shadowy crosses, serpents—float among them through an undefined ether, as if transmitting cryptic information.
—Alice Gregory, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025
The range of the monster drawings included primitive people, giant spiders, serpents, snails and fantastical fish.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2025
Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
Were a lot of serpents biting people in those days.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026
Frenzied shapes—sparks, ribbons, spirals, glyphs, shadowy crosses, serpents—float among them through an undefined ether, as if transmitting cryptic information.
—Alice Gregory, New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2025
The range of the monster drawings included primitive people, giant spiders, serpents, snails and fantastical fish.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for serpents
Noun
-
There are no snakes, no venomous spiders, no large predators like wild cats or monkeys, and no scorpions.—
James Barrett,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Feb. 2026
-
In videos shared on social media, handlers could be seen removing two snakes from Nwangene's home and a bystander was heard identifying one as a cobra.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But that does not mean that those Maryland families with pre-war Confederate roots were, or are, traitors.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Feb. 2026
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Underwood not only survived several murders but takes pride in having a hand in eliminating three out of the four original traitors, including Donna Kelce, Lisa Rinna and Dillard Bassett.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Other shipments sent by Lin included alligator lizards, venomous green tree vipers and palm pit vipers, all protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
30 Dec. 2025
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Now, young people are buying venomous pet vipers.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
16 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Serpents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/serpents. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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