1
: a gastropod mollusk especially when having an external enclosing spiral shell
2
: a slow-moving or sluggish person or thing
Examples of snail in a Sentence
Noun go and tell the snails in the back to hurry up Verb the highway construction work created a bottleneck that had cars snailing for the next five miles
Recent Examples on the Web
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026 While many in the industry argue that meaningful commercial adoption of quantum could show up as early as 2030, Ark thinks development is actually moving at a snail’s pace. —Jim Edwards, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Kiana Murden, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026 The northern part of the island was at a standstill, schools closed, traffic snailing down the motorway. —Ariel Saramandi, The Dial, 29 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for snail
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.
Noun
Brassicas such as broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts are usually hit hard by pests, including slugs, snails, and cabbage loopers. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Apr. 2026 While many in the industry argue that meaningful commercial adoption of quantum could show up as early as 2030, Ark thinks development is actually moving at a snail’s pace. —Jim Edwards, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
The texture is exceptionally satisfying—its sticky, almost snail mucin-like feel sinks instantly into skin. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026 The northern part of the island was at a standstill, schools closed, traffic snailing down the motorway. —Ariel Saramandi, The Dial, 29 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for snail
Cite this Entry
“Snail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/snail. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
snail
noun
: any of various gastropod mollusks and especially those having an external enclosing spiral shell including some which are important in medicine as intermediate hosts of trematodes
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
