slippery
adjective
slip·pery
ˈsli-p(ə-)rē 
slipperier; slipperiest
1
a
: causing or tending to cause something to slide or fall
slippery roads
b
: tending to slip from the grasp
a slippery fish
3
: not to be trusted : tricky
slipperiness
noun
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
Their zip-up design is easy to slip on and off, and their durable rubber sole offers added traction on slippery surfaces.
—
Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
But the reality, like a victorious electoral campaign, like getting a Ming vase across a slippery floor, is often more mundane.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The department warned citizens that snow and ice can create extremely slippery surfaces and lead to serious or even deadly accidents.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Schools and some businesses in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties closed for the day because of slippery road conditions and to keep students, workers and customers out of the cold.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for slippery
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Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
But the reality, like a victorious electoral campaign, like getting a Ming vase across a slippery floor, is often more mundane.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
The department warned citizens that snow and ice can create extremely slippery surfaces and lead to serious or even deadly accidents.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Schools and some businesses in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties closed for the day because of slippery road conditions and to keep students, workers and customers out of the cold.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for slippery
Cite this Entry
“Slippery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slippery. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
slippery
adjective
slip·pery
ˈslip-(ə-)rē
slipperier; slipperiest
1
: having a surface smooth enough to cause one to slide or lose one's hold
slipperiness
noun
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