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Definition of serpentine
serpentine
/ˈsɜːr.pən.tiːn/
ser · pen · tine
Adverb:serpentinely
•Past Simple:serpentined
•Past Participle:serpentined
•Present Participle:serpentining
serpentine Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
9
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
serpentine Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• adjective
1
Moving, bending, or winding like a snake.
Example
"The hikers navigated a serpentine trail that switched back and forth up the steep mountain."
2
Subtle, shrewd, cunning, or treacherous in a way that resembles a serpent.
Example
"The politician's serpentine logic managed to confuse his opponents and obscure his true intentions."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for serpentine Antonyms
View all antonyms for serpentine• verb
1
To move or extend in a curving, winding, or sinuous path.
Example
"The historic river serpentines through the lush valley, nourishing the surrounding farmlands."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for serpentine Antonyms
View all antonyms for serpentine• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'serpentine', via Old French from Late Latin 'serpentinus', derived from Latin 'serpens' (meaning 'creeping' or 'snake').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Serpentine. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/serpentine