slips 1 of 3

Definition of slipsnext
present tense third-person singular of slip
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3
as in sneaks
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way casually slipped it into the conversation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

slips

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural of slip
as in strips
a long narrow piece of material baskets woven from slips of wicker

Synonyms & Similar Words

slips

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural of slip
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2
as in spills
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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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 slips
Verb
That tune slips several spaces, pushed downward by new releases from Harry Styles, Rob Zombie, and Def Leppard, among others. Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026 Knausgaard slips easily into this way of looking at life. Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 23 Jan. 2026 As for the film’s fortunes as a whole, this could be an indication that Sinners is now moving into second place in the best-picture race after One Battle After Another, as Hamnet slips into third. Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026 The ability to respond once the game slips. C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026 Even in summer, evenings turn crisp, drawing locals and visitors alike outdoors to sip tea as the sun slips behind the escarpment and the mountain exhales its cool. Anna Zacharias, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Jan. 2026 Urgency intrudes, the long term slips, and foundational risks compound even as leaders acknowledge them. Louisa Loran, Fortune, 21 Jan. 2026 Follow these steps to ensure nothing slips through the cracks. Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 19 Jan. 2026 Mohammad Baharlou’s Killing Love (1999), for example, tells the story of a writer who falls, breaks his hand, and, under the haze of pain and painkillers in a hospital bed, slips into the universe of The Blind Owl. Amir Ahmadi Arian, The Dial, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
The late 2025 slips are a reminder that home prices don’t always rise. Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026 The steep uptick in routing slips and bills moving through the legislative process comes with a cost, Guthrie told the Statesman in an interview. Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 28 Jan. 2026 But Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has refused to budge, defending blue slips as a core component of the Senate’s constitutional role in providing advice and consent. Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 27 Jan. 2026 Next to him were a couple of empty bottles of Pacifico and some betting slips. Jasper Craven, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 For additional comfort, the upper is made from breathable mesh to promote airflow, and the rubber outsole offers extra grip to help prevent slips and trips. Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Jan. 2026 The pleasure-boat marina, with some 1,500 boat slips, is the largest on the Great Lakes. Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026 Injuries related to slips on the ice tend to follow similar patterns. Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026 The magnetic driver tip secures bits firmly in place, preventing slips and ensuring precision. New Atlas, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slips
Verb
  • Only a few are still running Commissioner Natalie Orbis, who also sponsored the measure, said the buses were sold to the public as both an environmental win and a cost-saving investment — but that promise falls apart if the buses break down far more often than their diesel counterparts.
    Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Rachel Perry, PhD, has spent most of her scientific life thinking about how the body moves energy around—how glucose rises and falls, how tissues compete for fuel, and how metabolism shifts during illness.
    Avi Patel, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Ennin gets up and stumbles down the block before collapsing next to a building.
    Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
  • There’s a fine line between righteousness and self-satisfaction, and the second season, which premieres on HBO Max on January 8, frequently stumbles into the latter territory.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • That pressure sneaks into how candidates speak, frame their stories and answer even routine questions.
    Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Romance sneaks into your schedule, making things feel disruptive and unexpected, Virgo.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • As its name suggests, the asterism lurks relatively low on the horizon in the winter months for stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere, but rises high overhead during short summer nights.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 28 Jan. 2026
  • With all things in the beauty galaxy, there’s always a new hope, but of course a phantom menace lurks around every corner.
    Brennan Kilbane, Allure, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Capital flows into Africa have slowed drastically after some seismic shifts.
    Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Tucked on a hillside in the Rustic Canyon neighborhood, the house floats above a natural spring that flows through the property, resting on six concrete columns sunk 30 feet into the ground.
    Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • For instance, Mars in Aries injects you with explosive momentum, but its shift into Taurus (May 18) — followed by intense pressure from Pluto (May 25) — sheds light on where impatience, control issues or fear of loss is sabotaging your progress.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
  • New information from two fresh leaks sheds light on Samsung’s exact launch schedule and reveals when shoppers can pre-order the Galaxy S26.
    Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Queen of minimalism, Janet has essentially just set type in panels—but the way the background sags like a deflating hot-air balloon, with the type recessed into it, is so wry and brilliant.
    Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Boat trips with the hotel’s fleet of luxury liners or a heli ride take you island-hopping to Hydra and Spetses.
    Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Shoelaces are scanned to ensure that no player trips and breaks bones.
    Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 4 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slips.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slips. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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