slip 1 of 3

1
2
as in to stumble
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily be careful not to slip on the spilled oil

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to sneak
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way casually slipped it into the conversation

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to lurk
to move about in a sly or secret manner slipped behind the cover of the trees

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
6
as in to shed
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside periodically crabs slip their shells and grow new ones

Synonyms & Similar Words

slip

2 of 3

noun (1)

as in strip
a long narrow piece of material baskets woven from slips of wicker

Synonyms & Similar Words

slip

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
2
as in fall
the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily had a nasty slip on the ice

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun slip differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of slip are blunder, error, lapse, and mistake. While all these words mean "a departure from what is true, right, or proper," slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes.

a slip of the tongue

When is it sensible to use blunder instead of slip?

The meanings of blunder and slip largely overlap; however, blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame.

diplomatic blunders

When is error a more appropriate choice than slip?

In some situations, the words error and slip are roughly equivalent. However, error suggests the existence of a standard or guide and a straying from the right course through failure to make effective use of this.

procedural errors

When would lapse be a good substitute for slip?

The synonyms lapse and slip are sometimes interchangeable, but lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause.

a lapse in judgment

When can mistake be used instead of slip?

The words mistake and slip are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error.

dialed the wrong number by mistake

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 slip
Verb
Shares of the pizza chain have slipped 2% this year. Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025 Convenient pull tabs on the tongue and heel make these a breeze to slip on and off without wrestling over the laces, which are otherwise easy to tighten and secure. Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
Make trick-or-treaters take the quiz, then give them a score slip instead of candy. Holly J. Morris, NPR, 31 Oct. 2025 Inside, there’s also a slip pocket, along with a back pouch. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slip
Verb
  • Two things happened on that blustery back-to-school morning that fell exactly a month after my eleventh birthday.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Midway through the third quarter, true freshman linebacker Mason Posa, buried on the depth chart just weeks ago, ripped the ball loose at Washington’s 7-yard line and fell on it himself.
    Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Although the discovery has only now been formally studied, cavers from the Czech Speleological Society first stumbled upon the phenomenon in 2022 during an expedition in Vromoner Canyon.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Uber reported strong growth in its third-quarter earnings report on Wednesday, but stumbled on the bottom line after absorbing a $479 million charge for what the company described as undisclosed legal and regulatory matters.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Brissett and the Cardinals responded immediately, marching 74 yards in 11 plays before Brissett snuck one across at the goal line.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Tibetan parents, fathers mostly, also snuck into India to leave their children at the school.
    Diaa Hadid, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Not as shadows lurking in code prompt chains.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 11 Nov. 2025
  • And among the less conversationally direct, the topic often seems to lurk on the fringes as locals in other countries try to more delicately approach politics and discern how US travelers feel about what’s going on at home.
    Terry Ward, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • People pour in from the dense warrens of India’s financial capital and from dusty villages thousands of kilometers away, all flowing towards the fortified, sea-facing Mumbai home of actor Shah Rukh Khan.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Walk through the front door and the layout flows uninterrupted into multiple living areas highlighted by warm cherry wood accents, fine architectural details and an abundance of natural light.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The redistricting measure, which passed resoundingly Tuesday, doesn’t break any ground, chart a fresh course or shed any light on a better pathway forward.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Once CoreWeave sheds its liabilities over the next five years, Blakely says, a growing percent of its revenue can begin coming from infrastructure that’s already paid off, boosting CoreWeave’s margins.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The Balenciaga tunics seemed similarly austere, until the models did an about-face, revealing a slit that sagged open seductively.
    Miles Socha, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The Democratic margin in those counties had sagged in 2021, when Republican Glenn Youngkin won the governor’s race, and in 2024, when Kamala Harris eked out a surprisingly narrow win.
    Ronald Brownstein, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • This and that ▪ Dolphins rookie running back Ollie Gordon II was contrite about lashing out at running backs coach Eric Studesville in a heated exchange after Gordon was called for a tripping penalty against Baltimore.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
  • To learn more about some of the region’s wild food offerings, trip out to Mushroom Mountain in nearby Easley.
    Nevin Martell, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slip. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

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