1
as in shady
given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions
a bar where a lot of slippery characters were known to hang out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in elusive
hard to find, capture, or isolate
a slippery concept that we had trouble understanding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in slicked
having or being a surface so smooth as to greatly reduce traction
had trouble keeping upright on the slippery ice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 slippery
Müser and his colleagues, Achraf Atila, PhD, a computational material scientist, and Sergey Sukhomlinov, PhD, a postdoctoral physics researcher at the university, emphasized how for generations the common explanation for why ice becomes slippery has focused on pressure and friction.
—
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
What was surprising was how slippery the ball gets after a couple of throws, due to the moisture on the field.
—James Wallace, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
This residue can make floors slippery and more difficult to clean in the long run.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025
Avoid freeze-thaw environments and be aware of staircase applications as zellige tile can be a more slippery surface than wood or other materials.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slippery
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
What was surprising was how slippery the ball gets after a couple of throws, due to the moisture on the field.
—James Wallace, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
This residue can make floors slippery and more difficult to clean in the long run.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2025
Avoid freeze-thaw environments and be aware of staircase applications as zellige tile can be a more slippery surface than wood or other materials.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slippery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slippery
Adjective
-
Another reason is that most EVs don’t use wires in their steering column so they can’t be hotwired and some have cameras and motion detection that deter shady people that get too close to the vehicle.—
Keenan Thompson,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Leaving it longer, especially in shady areas, helps the grass develop a stronger root system.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Adoption can outrun outcomes, pilots can sprawl, and value can be elusive.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
9 Sep. 2025
-
With the Ryder Cup just a few weeks away, McIlroy seems to have regained both his motivation and his golf game just in time to try to lead the European team to an elusive victory on American soil at Bethpage Black.—
Mike Fore,
Forbes.com,
8 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
-
Jason Ardizzone-West’s set is a predictable slick white box, its blank surfaces submissive to the constant barrage of Brad Peterson’s video projections.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Having his slick-fielding pal Ha-Seong Kim as a teammate again seemed to bring out the best in Jurickson Profar in their first game together with the Atlanta Braves.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Dip a microfiber cloth into the water and then gently scrub away any greasy spots on your cabinets.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
-
And because Rhode is all about keeping skin health front of mind, the product ensures lasting hydration that never enters greasy territory.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slippery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slippery. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share