viperine
Like a snake
Viperine means of, relating to, or resembling vipers.
The word describes snake-like qualities—venomous, treacherous, or malicious: a viperine tongue, viperine cunning.
In zoology, it classifies snakes belonging to the viper family.
The figurative sense dominates ordinary use, suggesting someone or something dangerously deceptive.
Cunning, limbless reptile
- reptileCold-blooded scaled vertebrate
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- fangsSharp piercing teeth
- slitherGlide smoothly, sinuously
cobra · asp · mamba · rattlesnake · python · boa · constrictor · pitviper
Sly, scheming cleverness
- slyCleverly deceptive
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
- insidiousSubtly destructive over time
- duplicitousDeliberately deceptive in nature
guileful · deceitful · scheming · underhanded · manipulative · crafty · wily · beguiling
Conveying threat or danger
- dangerousApt to cause harm
- sinisterThreateningly suggestive of harm
- deadlyAble to cause expiration
- balefulThreatening harm or misfortune
malevolent · hostile · fearsome · ominous · aggressive · intimidating · foreboding · treacherous
Curving in repeated bends
- coilingLooping around repeatedly
- windingCurving repeatedly, sinuous
- twistingRotating with distortion
- undulatingMoving in waves
sinuous · curved · flexuous · slithering · lithe · supple · snaking
Curving in repeated bends
Capable of causing harm
- poisonousCapable of causing death
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- bitePierce with teeth
- fangsSharp piercing teeth
antivenom · envenomation · neurotoxin · hemotoxin · gland · cytotoxic · necrosis · toxicology
serpent
Cunning, limbless reptile
slither · cobra · asp · mamba · rattlesnake · python · boa · constrictor · pitviper · adder
cunning
Sly, scheming cleverness
- slyCleverly deceptive
- treacherousDisloyal and dangerous
- insidiousSubtly destructive over time
duplicitous · guileful · deceitful · scheming · underhanded · manipulative · crafty · wily · beguiling · subtle
menacing
Conveying threat or danger
baleful · malevolent · hostile · fearsome · ominous · aggressive · intimidating · foreboding · treacherous · lurking
serpentine
Curving in repeated bends
undulating · sinuous · curved · flexuous · slithering · lithe · supple · snaking
serpentine
Curving in repeated bends
toxic
Capable of causing harm
fangs · antivenom · envenomation · neurotoxin · hemotoxin · gland · cytotoxic · necrosis · toxicology · anaphylaxis
viperinebenevolent
Desiring others' welfare
trustworthy · harmless · gentle · kind · benign
viperinemammalian
Of the nursing class
warm-blooded · avian · endothermic · furry · feathered