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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
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
2
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
3
as in excellent
of the very best kind
that's a slick new suit you have on
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pictorial
Related Words
2
as in slicker
Related Words
3
as in chopper
Related Words
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
IEEE Spectrum, 6 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, a steep descent leads to Tappiya Falls—thundering into a jade basin as mist clings to lichen-slick boulders.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
With his brow perennially furrowed and hair slicked with sweat, Riley has the exact look and bearing of a suavely addled wrong-man figure from British thrillers of yore — and thus makes a suitably bemused proxy for the viewers in this wasteland of mounting chaos and absurdity.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025
Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Even folks who seem to have it all together, like Ron’s slick CEO Jeff (Lou Diamond Phillips), only ever seem one twinge of embarrassment away from falling off the deep end.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slick
Verb
The driver is told to back off so there’s enough space to stop the truck in time on the rain-slick road if the lead car suddenly slams on its brakes.
—IEEE Spectrum, 6 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile, a steep descent leads to Tappiya Falls—thundering into a jade basin as mist clings to lichen-slick boulders.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
My instructor for the hour was a thin woman with blonde hair, slicked into a top bun.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
With his brow perennially furrowed and hair slicked with sweat, Riley has the exact look and bearing of a suavely addled wrong-man figure from British thrillers of yore — and thus makes a suitably bemused proxy for the viewers in this wasteland of mounting chaos and absurdity.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
The biggest threat with the incoming storm will be to travel, as falling and blowing snow will limit visibility and roads could become slick.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Even folks who seem to have it all together, like Ron’s slick CEO Jeff (Lou Diamond Phillips), only ever seem one twinge of embarrassment away from falling off the deep end.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slick
Verb
-
Meanwhile, lightly grease a 15x10x1-inch baking pan.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cakepans.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Watts wore a navy blue sparkly dress paired with black mules and a slicked back hairstyle.—
Kayla Grant,
People.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Norris portrays the cunning and relentless Chief Dennison, with Tripp as Liz Bradley, a border patrol agent with a true-north moral compass, in her first major film role.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Maigret must outwit some of Paris’s most cunning and violent criminals, while dealing with his own troubled past.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Steelers will have an opportunity to get back on track against an excellent Green Bay Packers squad next Sunday, before playing the Indianapolis Colts two days before the NFL trade deadline.—
Jon Conahan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
-
That’s because tipping isn’t in their culture, but Americans still might wish to add gratuity for excellent service.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Oct. 2025
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
Noun
-
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
-
The European far right is skillfully seizing the moment, promising an agricultural overhaul and a chance to stick it to the city slickers.—
Emily Rauhala,
Washington Post,
11 Apr. 2024
Noun
-
The single-engine, light utility chopper — sometimes flown for touring and shuttle services — has been involved in more than 100 crashes since 2004, according to the Aviation Safety Network, including those under its affiliated name, the EC130.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Mealhelper 12-in-1 Vegetable Chopper, $13 with Prime This manual vegetable chopper is another kitchen gadget with a Kardashian stamp of approval.—
Kyra Surgent,
PEOPLE,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Once your table is ready, heat up your grill on the burner—use a small piece of fat to oil the grill, or a paper towel lightly soaked in vegetable or sesame oil.—
Irene Yoo
September 26,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Platner’s campaign has an air of John Fetterman about it and thus far has proved both well organized and well oiled.—
Liz Mair,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slick. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share