slippery

adjective

ˈsli-p(ə-)rē How to pronounce slippery (audio)
Definition of slipperynext
1
as in shady
given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions a bar where a lot of slippery characters were known to hang out

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in elusive
hard to find, capture, or isolate a slippery concept that we had trouble understanding

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in slicked
having or being a surface so smooth as to greatly reduce traction had trouble keeping upright on the slippery ice

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 slippery Just like brand-new towels, this coating will leave the fibers feeling slippery, reducing their ability to absorb water. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 30 June 2026 But for foods that are more crumbly and less stain-y, Miss Manners finds leather (or a stain-resistant slippery equivalent) a helpful material for getting things to slide right to the floor. — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 27 June 2026 Its advanced traction control and adaptive gait algorithms enable secure movement across slippery, loose, or shifting surfaces, including gravel, sand, wet metal grating, and cluttered factory floors. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 June 2026 Lavers programs everything on a DAW like a beatmaker, or a Tetris addict, subordinating and texturizing all these offerings in the slippery swell of drums, samples, and vocals. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for slippery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slippery
  1. shady
  2. elusive
  3. slicked
  4. slick
  5. greasy
Adjective
  • The weather service also cautions the heat index is calculated for shady areas only.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • That makes these networks valuable for people trying to hide mass scraping, fake ad clicks, account attacks or other shady activity.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of shady
Adjective
  • Cristiano Ronaldo in his last World Cup, continuing the pursuit of the elusive trophy.
    — Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Already this year, the elusive-yet-ubiquitous producer is credited on Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE’s POMPEII // UTILITY, a song with Compton’s $amaad, and an ambient instrumental tape.
    — Oba Awolowo, Pitchfork, 3 July 2026
Definition of elusive
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
  • However, these benefits can’t be fully enjoyed if you’re left with flat and slick strands.
    — Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 5 July 2026
  • The hair at the crown is smoothed back but not slick—in fact, there’s a decent amount of volume up top—with virtually no visible part.
    — Marci Robin, Allure, 2 July 2026
Definition of slick
Adjective
  • Often, firming lotions are thick and leave a white cast, but this Olay option, which more than 30,000 buyers have picked up in the past month alone, is lightweight, non-greasy, and absorbs quickly.
    — Claire West, InStyle, 1 July 2026
  • On June 18, a similar cloud rose from the Moscow Oil Refinery on the outskirts of the capital, sending greasy black droplets raining down.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
Definition of greasy

Browse Nearby Words

slipperiness
slippery
slipping
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on slippery

Nglish: Translation of slippery for Spanish Speakers

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