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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in elusive
hard to find, capture, or isolate
a slippery concept that we had trouble understanding
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3
as in slicked
having or being a surface so smooth as to greatly reduce traction
had trouble keeping upright on the slippery ice
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slippery
Stoic and self-aware, Fassbender’s Martian is a slippery figure whose sense of self begins to unravel as the show’s thrilling first season unfurls.
—
Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
And save this hike for a dry day, as parts of the Loop trail will take you high above jungle gorges and the track can be slippery.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 June 2025
Watch out for slippery roads: Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 9 June 2025
Then there’s Adam’s cravat-wearing boss, played by an equally slippery Matthew Modine.
—Nina Metz Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for slippery
Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2025
And save this hike for a dry day, as parts of the Loop trail will take you high above jungle gorges and the track can be slippery.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 June 2025
Watch out for slippery roads: Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 9 June 2025
Then there’s Adam’s cravat-wearing boss, played by an equally slippery Matthew Modine.
—Nina Metz Chicago Tribune, Boston Herald, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for slippery
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slippery
Adjective
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One of them is Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend), a shady pharmaceuticals bigwig who wants to develop the world’s most effective heart medication using dinosaur blood samples.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
30 June 2025
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Old-school bedding impatiens will bloom continuously in a shady spot.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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Despite winning a handful of Grammys, the Academy Award remained elusive: Schifrin was nominated for Best Original Score six times — for Cool Hand Luke, The Fox, Voyage of the Damned, The Amityville Horror, The Competition and The Sting II — but never won an Oscar.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
27 June 2025
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This article is a selection from the July/August 2025 issue of Smithsonian magazine Even here, however, on the finest durian-eating street in the durian capital of the world, spectacular durian remains elusive.—
Tom Downey,
Smithsonian Magazine,
26 June 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, with its slick production values and big stars, Doctor Odyssey is expensive to produce.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
27 June 2025
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The unapologetic embracing of social platforms and creators has also resulted in a record $8 Million raised from donors to help continue the slick social messaging push to November’s General Mayoral election.—
Jason Davis,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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The serum for greasy skin has salicylic acid; for pigmentation has niacinamide; for first signs of aging has bakuchiol, and for advanced signs of aging has retinol, at 0.3 percent.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
1 July 2025
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The wrenches are made of S2 grade steel with a grippy rubber coating meant to provide purchase for greasy hands.—
Gabriel Morgan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slippery.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slippery. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.
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