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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slick

2 of 3

adjective

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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
Dua Lipa often slicks hers back for a sleek and polished vibe, and Billie Eilish’s green roots launched a movement. Kristen Philipkoski, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 Depending on the formula, ingredients like polymers and powders create lift and definition—perfect for everything from soft waves to slick backs—while humectants keep your hair hydrated for a glossy, smooth finish. Siena Gagliano, Allure, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Chances are it would be stuffed into a 1970s-era Chevelle or a slick '69 Camaro. New Atlas, 26 Apr. 2025 The inning ended with a slick defensive play by first baseman Reese Robinett. Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
Wait a few minutes and then remove the slick with a cleaner and a cotton pad or swab. Lena Raab, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2025 Animals at the surface and those that regularly break through it to feed or breathe will be especially affected by direct contact with the surface slick. Lauren Lowman, WIRED, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slick
Verb
  • McKinley worked quietly behind the scenes in his usual way to grease the skids for an annexation treaty.
    Robert W. Merry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The latter also perpetuates a reliance on extractive industries, keeping the metaphorical wheels greased on the fossil fuel industry rather than encouraging it to begin winding down.
    Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Esme forgoes a generic entreaty at the feet of her girlboss and instead makes a cunning personal plea for better judgment from her mentor.
    Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 25 Apr. 2025
  • John Krasinski plays Luke, a cunning art thief in the action adventure thriller Fountain of Youth, and puts his skills to good use.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Pumpkin Seeds Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of iron.
    Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, Health, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Incorporating a mudroom into your home is an excellent way to add value to your space.
    Sarah Lyon, Architectural Digest, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Bachardy’s self-portraits and drawings of Isherwood pepper the galleries, a confluence that reveals something that should be obvious: Two portrait artists, one pictorial and the other literary, resided for decades in the same household.
    Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Skims The actor stars in the pictorial, shot by Carin Backoff, with his fiancée, model Abby Champion.
    Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 17 Mar. 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
  • Lodges, reachable only by chopper or small plane, such as those from Pelorus Air, create a circuit for both golfers and wine aficionados as well as for hikers looking to explore peaks, glaciers, and deep-river gorges à la hobbits Frodo and Sam.
    Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 27 Apr. 2025
  • What follows is something resembling a helicopter dogfight in which multiple Army choppers chase Tommy and company through the LA sky.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The gift further connects revelers to Carved to Flow which began in a laboratory in Athens where oils, butters, and lye from the Mediterranean, Middle East, and North and West Africa were intermingled to create a soap.
    Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
  • This spray uses grapefruit, lemon and tea tree oils to remove makeup buildup and preserve your tools.
    Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • This quality is one of the reasons soap is slippery.
    Paul E. Richardson, The Conversation, 28 Apr. 2025
  • However, experts warn that the light continuously remaining on could indicate that stability and control could be compromised—notably on slick or slippery roads and during certain conditions.
    Mohammed Soliman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slick. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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