slippery

adjective

slip·​pery ˈsli-p(ə-)rē How to pronounce slippery (audio)
slipperier; slipperiest
Synonyms of slipperynext
1
a
: causing or tending to cause something to slide or fall
slippery roads
b
: tending to slip from the grasp
a slippery fish
2
a
: not firmly fixed : unstable
b
: not precise or fixed in meaning : ambiguous, elusive
3
: not to be trusted : tricky
slipperiness noun

Synonyms of slippery

Examples of slippery in a Sentence

The trails were muddy and slippery. Fish are slippery to hold. The sign cautions: “Slippery when wet.”
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
One effect of this austerity and repression is to focus attention on Albee’s language, with its slippery banalities and barbs. Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026 The advisory warns of snow, sleet, and heavy rain, with conditions likely to make roads slippery and hazardous. Eric Henderson, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026 Their ample traction provides security on slippery docks (or sidewalks) and the squishy yoga mat-like insole molds to your natural arch. Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026 These areas can be especially slippery when the roads ice over. Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slippery

Word History

Etymology

slipper entry 1 + -y entry 1

Note: As the earliest occurrence of slippery appears to be in the Coverdale Bible (1535, Psalm 35:6), it has been suggested that the addition of the suffix -y to the adjective slipper copies German schlipfferig in Luther's translation of the same passage (1534, present-day German schlüpfrig). The German word is ultimately from the same Germanic base as slip entry 5 (see Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology).

First Known Use

circa 1500, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of slippery was circa 1500

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Cite this Entry

“Slippery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slippery. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

slippery

adjective
slip·​pery ˈslip-(ə-)rē How to pronounce slippery (audio)
slipperier; slipperiest
1
: having a surface smooth enough to cause one to slide or lose one's hold
2
: not worthy of trust : tricky, crafty
slipperiness noun

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