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

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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
During the July 25-28 road closure, crews will also install a high-friction surface treatment, which increases pavement friction even when wet weather makes the road slick, Woodrum said. Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 July 2025 Bieber’s catalogue is searching and uneven, flitting between glossy renditions of trap-pop, mid-tempo R. & B., eighties new wave, campfire Christian sing-alongs, Afrobeat, and dancehall, his slick, supple voice skimming the surface of these styles while never committing to any of them. Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 16 July 2025
Adjective
While these top trending summer hair styles favor those who like to feel the wind in their hair on a balmy day, high temperatures give way to slicked back styles that keep your strands perfectly in place, free from frizz, and create a dramatic effect to highlight your facial features. Footwear News, 8 Aug. 2025 The show explores the power of materiality in contemporary Detroit art — from scorching to slick, raw to soft — inviting viewers to feel rather than merely observe. Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
Toward the end, Jason Momoa turns up in the 21st century as the new mob boss, a slick figure in a white suit, determined to get the manuscript back. Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2025 And behind those slick videos lies a flood of venture capital. Maya Cakmak, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slick
Verb
  • Meanwhile, lightly grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
  • With a shiny, almost mirror-like glaze, and tender ultra-moist crumb, this recipe is well worth the pain of greasing every nook and cranny of a Bundt pan to make.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 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
  • Bening will costar on the series as Beulah Jackson, who's described as the powerful, cunning, and charming head of a major ranch in Texas.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Joan Silber is a contemporary genius at creating artful stories of a multitude of characters who ricochet in cunning ways, crossing generations and continents.
    Jane Ciabattari September 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Harry Dean Stanton is excellent.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Moisture recovery ranged from good to excellent, with morning relative humidity levels between 55% and 88%.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 13 Sep. 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
  • Three hours after the troop’s Garmin inReach transmitted a call for help, a chopper retrieved Montgomery from a nearby meadow.
    Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Levine Cava on Thursday announced an attempt at compromise by moving back about half of the chopper budget to the countywide tax, with the rest going back in 2026.
    Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • When making thin-crust pizzas, avoid oiling or greasing the pan; instead, sprinkle some cornmeal or semolina to prevent sticking.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 Aug. 2025
  • High-carbon steel requires drying and oiling after each wash to prevent rust, so be sure to consider this when selecting your options.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slick. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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