slick 1 of 3

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

slick

2 of 3

adjective

1
2
3

slick

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word slick distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of slick are artful, crafty, cunning, foxy, sly, tricky, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

When is artful a more appropriate choice than slick?

Although the words artful and slick have much in common, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

When can crafty be used instead of slick?

The synonyms crafty and slick are sometimes interchangeable, but crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

When could cunning be used to replace slick?

The meanings of cunning and slick largely overlap; however, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

When would foxy be a good substitute for slick?

While the synonyms foxy and slick are close in meaning, foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

When is it sensible to use sly instead of slick?

While in some cases nearly identical to slick, sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

Where would tricky be a reasonable alternative to slick?

In some situations, the words tricky and slick are roughly equivalent. However, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When might wily be a better fit than slick?

The words wily and slick can be used in similar contexts, but wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

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
Verb
Where to watch Saw: Amazon Prime Video (to rent) 03 of 10 Saw X (2023) John Kramer ventures to Mexico for an experimental cancer treatment administered by money-hungry charlatans in this slick but not particularly inventive revival sequel, which takes place between the events of Saw and Saw II. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 10 May 2025 Keyboard Deals The Corsair K70 RGB Pro is made for serious gamers who want a keyboard that can take a beating while looking slick. Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 20 May 2025
Adjective
Her hair was slicked back into a bun, which was tucked under the brim. Catherine Santino, People.com, 5 June 2025 Meanwhile, her fringe was slicked flat on her forehead and framed around her face. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 21 May 2025
Noun
The tech giant’s big-budget racing drama, starring Brad Pitt as a Formula One driver who is coerced out of retirement to coach a slick rookie (Damson Idris), is targeting a promising $50 million to $60 million in its debut. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 25 June 2025 There are other braid knots that hold well, too, just remember that knots like the clinch that work well with monofilament have a tendency to slip when tied with slick braid. Kristine Fischer, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for slick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slick
Verb
  • Tips For Making Aggression Cookies Fox's original recipe strictly specifies that there is no need to grease the baking sheet, and this recipe is the same.
    Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 12 June 2025
  • The job is demanding: wheels must be inspected and greased, accidents like a broken carriage tongue can delay the whole train and the horses need constant care.
    Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 7 June 2025
Adjective
  • With wit and cunning, the protagonists navigate the ever-present systems of oppression that encircle them and their relationships.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 June 2025
  • President Trump does not exhibit Bismarck’s cunning, inscrutability, or proclivity for complicated diplomacy.
    Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Along the way, there have been some other expressions as well, including single barrel, barrel-proof whiskeys, a series of excellent cask-strength American single malts, and rye whiskeys made with different grain varietals.
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 29 June 2025
  • This would not have been possible without tireless work from our excellent lawyers @TheJusticeDept and our Solicitor General John Sauer.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • Bold face names abound in its 204 glossy pages including John F. Kennedy Jr., whose mother, the late Jackie Onassis, was the subject of a 1975 pictorial when a paparazzo with a long lens and a publisher with a fat wallet, shared images of her undressed.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025
  • The coffee table tome, its black cover embossed with gold lettering and shrouded in shrink wrap, includes reproductions of dozens of covers and pictorials and Flynt’s crusading columns against censorship that tackled issues including gay, transgender and women’s rights decades ago.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • For the dapper dog walker there's plenty of tweed caps and country-style rain slickers.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2024
Noun
  • In the top of the sixth inning with the Mets trying to finish off a sweep of the Washington Nationals on Thursday afternoon, C.J. Abrams hit a chopper to the left of the first base bag.
    Abbey Mastracco, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2025
  • When his chopper crashed in 1966, ultimately putting him out of business, Osmond joined the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
    Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • Keep those tools clean, oiled, sharpened and most importantly under cover to ensure many years of use. 14.
    Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 June 2025
  • The light non-foaming cream is enriched with shea butter, plus monoi, avocado, and tamanu oils to nourish the strands while removing scalp buildup.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • The water-free, no-rinse stick creates a slippery barrier on the skin so that your razor can smoothly glide across, leaving skin smooth and hydrated with sea moss, hyaluronic acid and ginger root oil.
    Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • Her flippant attitude toward school, her refusal to talk through her grief, and her slippery grasp on the concepts of right and wrong can all be traced to that fateful night in this garage.
    Stacia Brown, Vulture, 25 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slick. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on slick

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!