Thesaurus results for SLICKNESS

slickness

noun

Definition of slickness

as in cunning

skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means we were both impressed and outraged by the expert slickness with which the swindler fooled us

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 slickness The oil-free, non-comedogenic, chemical formula won’t clog pores, while silica and perlite absorb excess shine, leaving behind a matte finish that keeps midday slickness in check. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 22 May 2026 But there’s an innate slickness to drone footage that can turn a shot of, say, a South Texas Starbucks into a joke, and there’s a mechanical quality to the way drones glide through the air that, even if controlled by a human, feels impersonal — a view from nowhere. — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 May 2026 And despite the Grand Hotel Belvedere's slickness, behind the scenes it is run according to the sweet sort of interdependence demanded by any small town but especially one so isolated. — Alice Gregory, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026 He was ruled offside, but the poor timing of his run takes nothing away from the slickness of the combination, nor the effectiveness of the tactic. — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025 Untouched by any chain stores or contemporary slickness, the neighborhood’s highlights include the Tea House on Los Rios inside a 1911 Victorian, cottage-like Hummingbird House Cafe and Hidden House Coffee found inside a Craftsman. — Staff Report, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025 There’s a slickness about the style of everyone who lives here, and Missy captures that. — Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 9 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slickness

Noun

The Odysseus of legend is known for his cunning and his eloquence.

— Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 15 July 2026
In Argentina, and by Maradona, it was celebrated for its cunning.

— Nick Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026

Definition of cunning

Noun

In other words, there’s not a lick of subtlety on this album.

— Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026
The experience of the drink is composed, elegant even, a sophisticated push and pull subtlety and counterbalance, but the list of ingredients reads, to me, to be almost flamboyantly random.

— Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 11 July 2026

Definition of subtlety

Noun

All of this shone vividly through his work, which shared his joy, artfulness and deep feeling, and most of all privileged human experience and social interaction.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Mike Bowman, designer, furniture industry expert, and director of marketing for Harmonia Living, says this trend relies on furnishings to bring artfulness to a space—rather than just functionality.

— Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026

Definition of artfulness

Noun

The remaining winners are organized by region for ease of reference, and might reflect the news of the day.

— Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 23 July 2026
Decisions about materials, ease of repair, recovery and product lifespan are much easier to make while a product is still being designed than after production.

— Clyde Eiríkur Hull, The Conversation, 23 July 2026

Definition of ease

Noun

In some ways, that depends on whether the agent eventually learns guile, and social gamesmanship, or not.

— John Werner, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
His club team-mate Dani Olmo provided the guile and skill for the Spanish second, producing a magnificent flick to unlock the French defence.

— Adam Crafton, New York Times, 15 July 2026

Definition of guile

Noun

The rules allowed offensive linemen to grapple and hold the bottom of their shoulder pads with savvy bordering on deviousness.

— Alec Lewis, New York Times, 24 July 2026
The practice reached new heights of creativity (or deviousness, depending on your perspective) in the modern age, when ever-more sophisticated computers allowed for ever-finer slicing and dicing of the electorate.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of deviousness

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“Slickness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slickness. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of slickness

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