To move quietly and secretly, trying not to be seen or heard, or to do something without other people knowing.
From Middle English 'sniken', possibly from Old Norse 'snika' (to turn aside). The word has meant moving stealthily since the 1400s.
The word 'sneaks' has such different vibes depending on context—kids sneaking cookies are cute, but 'sneaks' can also mean someone completely untrustworthy, showing how tone completely changes the moral weight of a word.
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