Synonyms for

Slippery

Verb / ˈslɪpɜ:i: / / ˈslɪpri: / Another word for slippery — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

tending to slip or slide; causing something to slip or slide

Synonyms & similar words

nonslippery slippy tricky slick smooth greasy oily slithery sleek satin glossy shiny glazed icy wet frosty icy-cold icy-cool icy-smooth icy-wet icy-slick icy-shiny icy-glazed

Synonyms by register

Formal

lubricious glabrous slick

Informal

slimy greasy icy wet

Literary

unctuous treacherous

Antonyms

grippy rough textured non-slip stable firm solid

Common collocations

  • slippery slope
  • slippery when wet
  • slippery floor
  • slippery ice
  • slippery road
  • slippery surface
  • slippery fish

Word family

noun slipperiness
adjective slippery
adverb slipperily

Usage note

Often used metaphorically to describe a situation that is difficult to control and likely to lead to a bad outcome, as in 'slippery slope'.

Example sentences

  1. The banana peel was so slippery that I fell on the ground.
  2. I put on my boots with the slippery soles to walk on the icy sidewalk.
  3. The soap made my hands feel slippery and slimy.
  4. The snake's skin was shiny and slippery.
  5. The ice on the road made the driving conditions slippery and dangerous.

Quotes

  • My feet slip, slide, and I grip my knees to keep from being swept away. It's like trying to stand on a slippery eel, - Suzanne Collins
  • Life is like a camera, focus on the good times, develop from the negatives, and if things don't work out, take another shot. Life is too short to be negative and slip on the slippery ground of life, - unknown
  • It is slippery when wet, - unknown

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