slippery
adjective
slip·pery
ˈsli-p(ə-)rē 
slipperier; slipperiest
1
a
: causing or tending to cause something to slide or fall
slippery roads
b
: tending to slip from the grasp
a slippery fish
3
: not to be trusted : tricky
slipperiness
noun
Examples of slippery in a Sentence
The trails were muddy and slippery.
Fish are slippery to hold.
The sign cautions: “Slippery when wet.”
Recent Examples on the Web
These Birkenstock clogs are also oil- and grease-resistant and provide plenty of traction for slippery terrain.
—
Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2024
Quick is the operative word in this instance, as the Verge reports that the solution to the slippery pedals problem is a 35-second job that sees engineers drill a hole in the pedal and install a rivet.
—Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2024
Swift's artistry is tied up in her deployment of celebrity, a slippery state in which a real life becomes emblematic.
—Ann Powers, NPR, 19 Apr. 2024
While many manufacturers seek to optimize efficiency through lightweight construction and slippery aerodynamics, the Hummer EV Pickup Truck tips the scales at over 9,000 pounds, a relatively astounding heft that is defied by a touted zero-to-60 mph time of around 3 seconds.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
Throughout the entire state, roads were slippery from the night's snow, according to the 511 Wisconsin travel information website.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
With gusty winds, there's a high likelihood that the storm will disrupt travel due to low visibility and slippery roads.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
The fluted surface makes it so the cookie sheet isn’t slippery, while providing airflow and allowing cookies to slide right off.
—Molly Allen, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024
Most of Michigan spent the first day of spring navigating slippery roads from the day's ongoing snowstorm.
—Detroit Free Press, 22 Mar. 2024
Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 25 Apr. 2024
Quick is the operative word in this instance, as the Verge reports that the solution to the slippery pedals problem is a 35-second job that sees engineers drill a hole in the pedal and install a rivet.
—Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2024
Swift's artistry is tied up in her deployment of celebrity, a slippery state in which a real life becomes emblematic.
—Ann Powers, NPR, 19 Apr. 2024
While many manufacturers seek to optimize efficiency through lightweight construction and slippery aerodynamics, the Hummer EV Pickup Truck tips the scales at over 9,000 pounds, a relatively astounding heft that is defied by a touted zero-to-60 mph time of around 3 seconds.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
Throughout the entire state, roads were slippery from the night's snow, according to the 511 Wisconsin travel information website.
—David Clarey, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2024
With gusty winds, there's a high likelihood that the storm will disrupt travel due to low visibility and slippery roads.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024
The fluted surface makes it so the cookie sheet isn’t slippery, while providing airflow and allowing cookies to slide right off.
—Molly Allen, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024
Most of Michigan spent the first day of spring navigating slippery roads from the day's ongoing snowstorm.
—Detroit Free Press, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slippery.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near slippery
Cite this Entry
“Slippery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slippery. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
slippery
adjective
slip·pery
ˈslip-(ə-)rē
slipperier; slipperiest
1
: having a surface smooth enough to cause one to slide or lose one's hold
slipperiness
noun
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