slipperier; slipperiest
1
: difficult to stand on, move on, or hold because of being smooth, wet, icy, etc.
The trails were muddy and slippery.
The floor looks slippery.
Fish are slippery to hold.
The sign cautions: "Slippery when wet."
2
: not easy to understand or identify in an exact way
a slippery definition
slippery concepts/notions
3
informal
: not able to be trusted : tricky
slippery politicians
Cite this Entry
“Slippery.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/slippery. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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