Synonyms of slick

slick 1 of 3

adjective

ˈslik 

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

• slicked
• slippery
• greasy
• slithery
• greased
• ground
• lubricated
• slippy
• polished
• oiled
• coated
• rubbed
• sanded
• burnished
• glazed
• brushed
• waxed
• soapy
• buffed
• scraped
• shined
• waxy
• glossed
• scrubbed
• scoured
• sandblasted
• sandpapered
• rasped

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rough
• uneven
• roughened
• scuffed
• coarsened

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

• cunning
• cute
• subtle
• deceptive
• fraudulent
• treacherous
• dishonest
• designing
• crooked
• artful
• slippery
• sly
• beguiling
• wily
• shrewd
• cagey
• tricky
• crafty
• foxy
• scheming
• devious
• dodgy
• guileful
• sharp
• shady
• deceitful
• calculating
• covert
• glib
• astute
• facile
• circular
• shifty
• serpentine
• clandestine
• plotting
• sneaky
• undercover
• oblique
• unscrupulous
• underhanded
• Machiavellian
• roundabout
• concealed
• underhand
• hypocritical
• backhanded
• surreptitious
• secret
• insincere
• circuitous
• knavish
• mealy
• stealthy
• insinuating
• furtive
• two-faced
• mealymouthed
• double-dealing
• smooth-tongued
• left-handed
• hugger-mugger

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• plain
• guileless
• ingenuous
• artless
• innocent
• obvious
• public
• simple
• real
• open
• direct
• straightforward
• natural
• frank
• unaffected
• sincere
• honest
• forthright
• candid
• outspoken
• patent
• unpretentious
• unconcealed
• unvarnished
• unsophisticated
• childlike
• unpretending
• impressionable
• undesigning
• simpleminded
• unworldly
• aboveboard
• plainspoken
• unstudied
• unforced
• trusting
• trustful

3

as in excellent

of the very best kind

that's a slick new suit you have on

Synonyms & Similar Words

• excellent
• terrific
• lovely
• beautiful
• great
• superb
• wonderful
• awesome
• stellar
• fantastic
• fabulous
• prime
• hot
• fine
• marvelous
• neat
• classic
• cool
• quality
• sensational
• nifty
• groovy
• famous
• heavenly
• cracking
• superior
• brave
• top
• sterling
• high-class
• dandy
• splendid
• top-notch
• first-class
• first-rate
• swell
• crackerjack
• top-shelf
• divine
• dope
• good
• peachy
• grand
• superlative
• banner
• dynamite
• topping
• too much
• bumper
• choice
• keen
• immense
• exceptional
• topflight
• par excellence
• unsurpassed
• blue-chip
• number one
• decent
• noble
• frontline
• blue-ribbon
• radical
• prize
• fab
• wizard
• boss
• phat
• gone
• bang-up
• out of this world
• primo
• tip-top
• mean
• out-of-sight
• top-of-the-line
• bully
• righteous
• hype
• corking
• first-string
• down
• capital
• A1
• better
• supernal
• boffo
• gangbusters
• adequate
• fantabulous
• gilt-edged
• satisfactory
• bonny
• jim-dandy
• brag
• special
• passable
• five-star
• prizewinning
• fancy
• traditional
• peachy keen
• acceptable
• A-OK
• numero uno
• four-star
• classical
• tolerable
• premium
• high-grade
• all right
• OK
• standard
• high-test
• select
• superfine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• poor
• awful
• terrible
• pathetic
• vile
• rotten
• lousy
• wretched
• atrocious
• bad
• inferior
• unsatisfactory
• substandard
• low-grade
• execrable
• mediocre
• middling
• second-class
• second-rate

slick

2 of 3

verb

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

• grease
• oil
• wet
• lubricate
• wax
• wash
• soak
• water
• bathe
• drench
• douse
• souse

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rough
• roughen
• dry
• coarsen
• sear
• dehydrate
• parch

slick

3 of 3

noun

1

as in pictorial

Related Words

• pictorial
• sheet
• edition
• extra
• tabloid
• tab
• fanzine
• little magazine
• broadside
• supplement
• digest
• newsletter
• rag
• serial
• quarterly
• daily
• monthly
• weekly
• newsmagazine
• newspaper
• bimonthly
• bulletin
• yearbook
• annual
• mag
• paper
• periodical
• zine
• organ
• magazine
• book
• biweekly
• newsweekly
• journal
• gazette
• semimonthly
• review
• semiweekly
• triweekly
• diurnal

2

as in slicker

Related Words

• slicker
• slickster
• fox
• knave
• fast-talker
• sneaker
• sneak
• rogue
• wheeler-dealer
• plotter
• schemer
• rascal
• gamesman
• charlatan
• prankster
• slyboots
• quack
• pretender
• smoothy
• fake
• impostor
• faker
• mountebank
• phony
• adventurer
• ringer
• cardsharp
• bluffer
• sharper
• sham
• blackleg
• quacksalver
• swindler
• confidence man
• dodger
• cheat
• humbug
• skinner
• chiseler
• cheater
• sharpie
• bilk
• double-crosser
• scammer
• trickster
• defrauder
• fraudster
• double-dealer
• shark
• finagler
• scamster
• tricker
• cozener
• fakir
• bilker
• hoaxer

3

as in chopper

Related Words

• chopper
• helicopter
• whirlybird
• copter
• eggbeater
• helo
• convertiplane
• autogiro
• gyroplane
• tilt-rotor
• rotorcraft
• rotary-wing aircraft

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

Recent Examples of slick

Adjective

That’s more than enough breathing room for a modern retro that’s mostly meant to ply on slick tarmac. — New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026

That calculation is pushing retail technology toward fitting-room innovation rather than slick checkout flows alone. — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026

Verb

Melrose had a relatable everyman’s broadcasting style, bringing a sense of humor to his insights, and easily was recognized by his goatee and slicked-back hair. — Stephen Whyno, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Every spoonful is masterfully balanced, slicking your lips with moreish flavor. — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

Noun

Nails were long and pointed but also naked, with a slick of nude polish. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2026

The Ecology Center Picture a teenage surfer paddling out through a slick of plastic and debris on a Southern California beach, trash bag in one hand. — Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026