sidewind
Crossways air current
To sidewind is to move laterally or obliquely, like a sidewinder snake crossing desert sand.
The motion suggests indirect or evasive movement rather than straightforward progress.
Figuratively, someone who sidewinds approaches situations indirectly or deceptively: He sidewound his way into the conversation without anyone noticing.
Glide smoothly, sinuously
- undulateMove in waves
- serpentineCurving in repeated bends
- lateralOf the side
- loopCurve closing on itself
propel · traction · anchor · push · glide · creep · wriggle · crawl
Viper with segmented tail noisemaker
- viperFanged toxic serpent
- serpentCunning, limbless reptile
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
fangs · venomous · slither · coil · hiss · cold-blooded · horned · nocturnal
Avoid by quick movement
- eludeSkillfully avoid capture
- swerveAbrupt directional change
- deflectTurn from course
- circumventAvoid by going around
misdirect · feint · indirect · avoid · mislead · outwit · outmaneuver · divert
Wind-formed sand ridges
erosion · ripples · granular · harsh · survival · adaptation · nocturnal · burrow
Gradual movement, no direction
- deviationDeparture from expected path
- correctionFixing of mistakes
- headingDirectional course traveled
- navigationDetermining position and course
gust · airspeed · trajectory · pilot · aircraft · rudder · aileron · turbulence
slither
Glide smoothly, sinuously
- undulateMove in waves
- serpentineCurving in repeated bends
- lateralOf the side
loop · propel · traction · anchor · push · glide · creep · wriggle · crawl · traverse
rattlesnake
Viper with segmented tail noisemaker
scales · fangs · venomous · slither · coil · hiss · cold-blooded · horned · nocturnal · camouflage
dodge
Avoid by quick movement
circumvent · misdirect · feint · indirect · avoid · mislead · outwit · outmaneuver · divert · sidestep
dunes
Wind-formed sand ridges
barren · erosion · ripples · granular · harsh · survival · adaptation · nocturnal · burrow · heat
drift
Gradual movement, no direction
- deviationDeparture from expected path
- correctionFixing of mistakes
- headingDirectional course traveled
navigation · gust · airspeed · trajectory · pilot · aircraft · rudder · aileron · turbulence · compensate