Synonyms of slip

slip 1 of 3

verb

ˈslip 

1

as in to fall

to decline gradually from a standard level

the store's quality of service began to slip after the new owners took over

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fall
• sag
• slump
• drop
• weaken
• decrease
• diminish
• shrink
• die (down)
• slow (down)
• slacken
• sink
• recede
• contract
• moderate
• taper off
• taper
• subside
• lower
• flag
• dwindle
• ebb
• lessen
• wane
• relent
• let up
• abate
• de-escalate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soar
• shoot (up)
• increase
• rocket
• swell
• expand
• escalate
• mount
• enlarge
• snowball
• proliferate
• multiply
• wax
• balloon
• mushroom
• peak
• surge
• crest
• burgeon
• bourgeon

2

as in to stumble

to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily

be careful not to slip on the spilled oil

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fall
• stumble
• trip
• tumble
• topple
• slide
• collapse
• plop
• skid
• drop
• crash
• plunge
• crumple
• keel
• plunk
• wipe out
• precipitate
• plummet
• slump (over)
• plonk
• flump
• free-fall
• nose-dive

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• stand (up)
• get up
• uprise

3

as in to sneak

to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way

casually slipped it into the conversation

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sneak
• infiltrate
• worm
• insert
• work in
• wind
• introduce
• wriggle
• wiggle
• creep
• insinuate
• edge
• interpolate
• interpose

4

as in to lurk

to move about in a sly or secret manner

slipped behind the cover of the trees

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sneak
• lurk
• slide
• mouse
• steal
• snake
• crawl
• slink
• creep
• shirk
• tiptoe
• skulk
• pad
• pussyfoot
• edge
• worm
• mooch
• ghost
• inch

5

as in to flow

to move or proceed smoothly and readily

jumped into the car and slipped behind the wheel

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flow
• drift
• slide
• glide
• sail
• sweep
• brush
• roll
• cruise
• coast
• race
• stream
• breeze
• fly
• speed
• rush
• skim
• bowl
• whisk

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• struggle
• limp
• stumble
• flounder
• trudge
• shuffle
• plod
• stamp
• lumber
• stomp
• labor
• tramp
• stump
• toil
• shamble

6

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

• shed
• peel
• discard
• ditch
• slough
• sluff
• molt
• exfoliate
• flake
• scale
• scrap
• unload
• throw away
• chuck
• jettison
• fling (off or away)
• throw out
• shuck (off)
• junk

slip

2 of 3

noun (1)

as in strip

a long narrow piece of material

baskets woven from slips of wicker

Synonyms & Similar Words

• strip
• ribbon
• list
• bandage
• tape
• strap
• binding
• belt
• slat
• girth
• swathe
• swatch
• band
• swath

slip

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

as in mistake

an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy

a careless slip of the tongue

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mistake
• error
• blunder
• stumble
• fumble
• trip
• misstep
• brick
• flub
• bobble
• fault
• lapse
• gaff
• inaccuracy
• goof
• miscue
• slipup
• gaffe
• clanger
• clinker
• screwup
• boob
• fluff
• oversight
• boo-boo
• blooper
• bloomer
• pratfall
• snafu
• misunderstanding
• howler
• boner
• misstatement
• misinterpretation
• miscalculation
• misreading
• misjudgment
• misconstruction
• misconception
• misdescription
• misapprehension
• misimpression
• miscomprehension
• foul-up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accuracy
• precision
• correctness
• exactness
• strictness
• exactitude
• perfection
• preciseness
• infallibility
• inerrancy

2

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

• fall
• tumble
• stumble
• spill
• trip
• slide
• dive
• skid
• plunge
• header
• misstep
• pratfall
• descent
• free-fall

3

as in escape

the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement

gave her pursuers the slip

Synonyms & Similar Words

• escape
• flight
• break
• rout
• breakout
• bunk
• getaway
• lam
• rescue
• liberation
• release
• salvation
• redemption
• close call
• deliverance
• jailbreak
• close shave
• near miss

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confinement
• imprisonment
• holding
• captivity
• incarceration
• hold
• retention
• custody
• risk
• detention
• trouble
• hazard
• internment
• jeopardy
• immurement
• peril
• imperilment
• endangerment

4

as in trip

a wrong judgment

that's not the sort of slip that a prudent person would have made

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mistake
• trip
• misstep
• blunder
• miscalculation
• misjudgment
• slipup
• error
• misapprehension
• misjudging
• stumble
• fumble
• flub
• lapse
• inaccuracy
• goof
• miscue
• gaffe
• errancy
• misunderstanding
• clinker
• muff
• fault
• boob
• misstatement
• boner
• misinterpretation
• misconstruction
• misconception
• foul-up
• misimpression
• misconstruing
• misprision

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

Recent Examples of slip

Verb

The set-up could easily slip into grim melodrama, but Jackman infuses it with a pop-tastic fun. —Leila Latif, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025

Some fans thought that (plus Reynolds’ social media post) meant Deadpool would be a given to join the superhero mash-up, but Reynolds isn’t letting anything slip for now. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025

Noun

Maple and Francesca each opted for dresses, with the former donning a semi-sheer black number and the latter choosing a silky brown slip dress matching her father's color palette. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025

When Simone decides to grasp Kiki’s life for herself by starting an affair with Peter, though, Michaela’s beatific facade slips. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025

Phrases Containing slip

• slip (on or into)
• slip up