SLICK Synonyms: 408 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'slick' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of slick are artful , crafty , cunning , foxy , sly , tricky , and wily . While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," slick emphasizes smoothness and guile. // slick operators selling time-sharing

Q: When is 'artful' a more appropriate choice than 'slick'?

Although the words artful and slick have much in common, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness. // elicited the information by artful questioning

Q: When can 'crafty' be used instead of 'slick'?

The synonyms crafty and slick are sometimes interchangeable, but crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method. // a crafty lefthander

Q: When could 'cunning' be used to replace 'slick'?

The meanings of cunning and slick largely overlap; however, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing. // the cunning fox avoided the trap

Q: When would 'foxy' be a good substitute for 'slick'?

While the synonyms foxy and slick are close in meaning, foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing. // a foxy publicity man planting stories

Q: When is it sensible to use 'sly' instead of 'slick'?

While in some cases nearly identical to slick , sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods. // a sly corporate raider

Q: Where would 'tricky' be a reasonable alternative to 'slick'?

In some situations, the words tricky and slick are roughly equivalent. However, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering. // a tricky political operative

Q: When might 'wily' be a better fit than 'slick'?

The words wily and slick can be used in similar contexts, but wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering. // the wily fugitive escaped the posse

slick 1 of 3

verb

Definition of slick

as in to grease

to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction slicking the bottom of their skis with wax

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slick

2 of 3

adjective

ˈslik

as in slicked

having or being a surface so smooth as to greatly reduce traction roads are often slick during the first hour of a rainstorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cunning

clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means a slick ad campaign that made smoking look cool and sexy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in excellent

of the very best kind that's a slick new suit you have on

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slick

3 of 3

noun

as in pictorial

Related Words

as in slicker

Related Words

as in chopper

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word slick distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of slick are artful, crafty, cunning, foxy, sly, tricky, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

When is artful a more appropriate choice than slick?

Although the words artful and slick have much in common, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

When can crafty be used instead of slick?

The synonyms crafty and slick are sometimes interchangeable, but crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

When could cunning be used to replace slick?

The meanings of cunning and slick largely overlap; however, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

When would foxy be a good substitute for slick?

While the synonyms foxy and slick are close in meaning, foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

When is it sensible to use sly instead of slick?

While in some cases nearly identical to slick, sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

Where would tricky be a reasonable alternative to slick?

In some situations, the words tricky and slick are roughly equivalent. However, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When might wily be a better fit than slick?

The words wily and slick can be used in similar contexts, but wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of slick

Verb

Aldean slicked her hair back into a low ponytail and accessorized with oversized sunglasses, statement pearl earrings and layered rings while smiling for the mirror photo. — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026 As tempting as slicking on a coat of foundation and calling it a day sounds, the best way to achieve true, Witherspoon-level ethereal skin is by prepping it with a moisturizing base. — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 28 June 2026

Adjective

Muni Long dazzled in an electric blue ensemble and a slick side bang. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 However, these benefits can’t be fully enjoyed if you’re left with flat and slick strands. — Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 5 July 2026

Noun

Spielberg didn’t film those terrifying closeups of the shark – like when Jaws pops up as Brody is shoveling the bloody chump slick in the water — until Day 92. — Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 22 June 2026 By the time the tournament reached Argentina four years later, though, the Dutch were not quite the slick — if defensively-flawed — outfit that played in 1974. — Will Jeanes, New York Times, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for slick

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slick

Verb

Whether they're getting greased after a Super Bowl or spoiling All-Star rosters, does any city's poles get as much attention as Philadelphia's?

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026
Proponents hope the move – also known as the PhilAtom Law – will boost public trust and grease the wheels of foreign investment.

— Lorela U. Sandoval, Christian Science Monitor, 25 June 2026

Definition of grease

Adjective

Zendaya complemented her partner by wearing a black Christopher Cowan minidress and Christian Louboutin heels, paired with a slicked back hairstyle.

— Sharareh Drury, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026
The main event, though, is the ski room—where ski butlers furnish guests with state-of-the-art skis before sliding them onto the slicked Jardin Alpin piste with or without an instructor.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026

Definition of slicked

Adjective

That doesn't enable cunning and unprincipled men to subvert the power of the people.

— Lori A Bashian , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
For decades, humans mined antibiotic molecules from microbes and tweaked them to develop new drugs, staying ahead of evolution’s cunning countermeasures.

— Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2026

Definition of cunning

Adjective

While San Francisco’s bullpen is struggling, Rogers is in the midst of another excellent season after signing a three-year, $37 million deal to join the defending American League champions.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
Guests can borrow, for no charge, one of four Mate e-bikes for spins around the park or beyond, say to Tanimachi nearby for local neighborhood vibes, including charming izakayas, gyoza shops, and excellent, one-woman restaurants such as Tachiaoi.

— Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Definition of excellent

Noun

Gibson, then 34, saw the pictorial in a classy, peekaboo way and even had a clothing budget.

— Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
By 2010, the magazine was essentially family entertainment compared to the tidal wave of online smut, so a peek-a-boo pictorial of half-naked cybergals didn't seem so risqué.

— Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 9 July 2025

Definition of pictorial

Noun

City slickers will definitely get a bang for their buck with this place, which is a lot more spacious than a shoebox on the Upper East Side.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 17 Nov. 2025
During the Waleses' trip to Canada in October 1991, Diana made time between touring an AIDS hospice and a women's shelter to join William, 9, and Harry, 7, on a visit to Niagara Falls, where the trio donned rain slickers for a wet and wild voyage on the Maid of the Mist.

— Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025

Definition of slicker

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slicing

slick

slicked

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“Slick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slick. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of slick

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noun

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