slippery slope

noun

: a course of action that seems to lead inevitably from one action or result to another with unintended consequences

Examples of slippery slope in a Sentence

His behavior will lead him down a slippery slope to ruin.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
That’s the inherent challenge, and slippery slope, for agencies that represent clients with competing interests. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026 But one of Bond’s colleagues cautioned that going so far as to endorse a boycott could put Atlanta’s City Council on a slippery slope. — Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Preservation advocates have railed against the possibility of the city taking such action again, arguing the move could be a slippery slope that would threaten Chicago’s rich architectural heritage. — Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026 Companies relying on the government for help creates the precedent of a slippery slope, Weber said. — Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slippery slope

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slippery slope was in 1951

Rhymes for slippery slope

See All Rhymes for slippery slope

Browse Nearby Words

slippery slide
slippery slope
slip plane
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slippery slope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slippery%20slope. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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