Synonyms of slippery

slippery

adjective

ˈsli-p(ə-)rē 

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

• shady
• shifty
• dark
• slick
• sneaky
• treacherous
• furtive
• sly
• stealthy
• crooked
• cheating
• deceptive
• cunning
• clandestine
• secretive
• sneaking
• close
• wily
• tricky
• lying
• dishonest
• crafty
• artful
• devious
• foxy
• guileful
• deceitful
• duplicitous
• covert
• deceiving
• insidious
• untrustworthy
• reticent
• mendacious
• underhanded
• serpentine
• underhand
• perfidious
• closemouthed
• untruthful
• trickish
• knavish
• two-faced
• dissembling
• double-dealing
• defrauding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straightforward
• forthright
• plain
• open
• direct
• frank
• candid
• plainspoken
• trustworthy
• truthful
• aboveboard
• honest
• foursquare

2

as in elusive

hard to find, capture, or isolate

a slippery concept that we had trouble understanding

Synonyms & Similar Words

• elusive
• evasive
• transient
• temporary
• fugitive
• inaccessible
• ephemeral
• fleeting
• passing
• evanescent
• transitory
• shifty
• momentary
• unavailable
• inconvenient
• cagey
• unobtainable
• unapproachable
• untouchable
• unattainable
• short-lived
• unreachable
• impermanent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• convenient
• available
• accessible
• obtainable
• attainable
• approachable
• reachable

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

• slicked
• slick
• greasy
• slithery
• greased
• slippy
• ground
• lubricated
• oiled
• sanded
• rubbed
• polished
• coated
• glazed
• burnished
• brushed
• waxed
• soapy
• buffed
• waxy
• shined
• scraped
• glossed
• scrubbed
• scoured
• rasped
• sandpapered
• sandblasted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• uneven
• rough
• roughened
• scuffed
• coarsened

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of slippery

The greater challenge for a film of its scale is capturing the spirit of Homer’s immortal epic, which has proven, over centuries, as mutable as the shape-shifting Proteus—and just as slippery. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 July 2026

The American Southwest has a way of making scale feel slippery. — Lara Johnson-Wheeler, Vogue, 3 July 2026

For example, slim velvet hangers save room on the rod and help slippery items stay put. — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 July 2026

Just like brand-new towels, this coating will leave the fibers feeling slippery, reducing their ability to absorb water. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 30 June 2026