slip 1 of 3

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as in to sneak
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way casually slipped it into the conversation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to lurk
to move about in a sly or secret manner slipped behind the cover of the trees

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to shed
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside periodically crabs slip their shells and grow new ones

Synonyms & Similar Words

slip

2 of 3

noun (1)

as in strip
a long narrow piece of material baskets woven from slips of wicker

Synonyms & Similar Words

slip

3 of 3

noun (2)

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as in fall
the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily had a nasty slip on the ice

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun slip differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of slip are blunder, error, lapse, and mistake. While all these words mean "a departure from what is true, right, or proper," slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes.

a slip of the tongue

When is it sensible to use blunder instead of slip?

The meanings of blunder and slip largely overlap; however, blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame.

diplomatic blunders

When is error a more appropriate choice than slip?

In some situations, the words error and slip are roughly equivalent. However, error suggests the existence of a standard or guide and a straying from the right course through failure to make effective use of this.

procedural errors

When would lapse be a good substitute for slip?

The synonyms lapse and slip are sometimes interchangeable, but lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause.

a lapse in judgment

When can mistake be used instead of slip?

The words mistake and slip are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error.

dialed the wrong number by mistake

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 slip
Verb
The air buzzed with the sound of deals being made between panels, introductions sparking collaborations, and veteran professionals quietly slipping advice to bright-eyed newcomers. Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025 Muriel played him through on the right side, and his shot to the bottom right corner slipped past Ustari’s hands for a 3-1 Orlando City lead. Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
Trump lashed out again at Grassley’s decision to respect the blue slip process. Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 31 July 2025 Wearing a long floral slip dress, Talita rested her left hand, which featured her sparkling new bling, on Brignone's white shirt. Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slip
Verb
  • But, if wages don’t rise to match those jumps, consumer spending could fall and slow the economy.
    Raul Elizalde, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Actual speeds vary by location, and some speeds may fall below the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) recommended broadband speeds of 100 Mbps. Use theFCC’s Broadband Map to find ISPs and their maximum speeds in your area.
    Kara McGinley, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The Wave have been fortunate that Orlando and Washington have also stumbled, keeping the gap small.
    Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Indeed, the Braves overcame an early 5-1 deficit in the series opener Tuesday with four runs in the fourth inning to tie the score, only to give it right back on a night when Spencer Strider stumbled, tying a career high with eight runs allowed in four innings.
    David O'Brien, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Frances Haugen, a Facebook product manager turned whistleblower, snuck over ten thousand pages of documents and internal messages out of Facebook headquarters.
    Noah Giansiracusa, Time, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Throughout Season 1, fans speculated that Tyler may be a potential love interest for Wednesday Addams, showing early interest in her and even sneaking out of Nevermore together.
    Vincent Perella, IndieWire, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The moon will sweep close to the Pleiades open star cluster in the early morning hours of Aug. 16-17, with the ice giant Uranus lurking unseen nearby.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Large air vents hinted at Prodigy Corp’s lax security, perfect for lurking aliens.
    Daron James, IndieWire, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In short, STEGs are devices where one side is cold and the other hot, and electricity flows through semiconductors placed between them.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2025
  • The more people who visit the park, the more money flows into its leisure sector.
    Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Further examinations indicated that the debris shed by the star in that time ultimately shaped the supernova’s light emissions.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2025
  • By looking closely at how people navigated these decisions in real time, the study shed light on the subtle mental trade-offs that can influence whether empathy comes to the surface or stays tucked away.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The reason the Feds are discussing a rate cut is to address the sagging job market, Pearce says.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Time Warner’s stock price was sagging, and Levin was looking to boost it by selling off assets or buying some new ones.
    John Malone, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Kids weren’t tripping over themselves to sit and reach in their free time.
    Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2025
  • The report, which was obtained by The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, said police concluded that Trigg accidentally fell into the pool after tripping and falling on an inflatable chair.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slip. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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