slick 1 of 3

as in to grease
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction slicking the bottom of their skis with wax

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slick

2 of 3

adjective

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slick

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word slick distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of slick are artful, crafty, cunning, foxy, sly, tricky, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

When is artful a more appropriate choice than slick?

Although the words artful and slick have much in common, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

When can crafty be used instead of slick?

The synonyms crafty and slick are sometimes interchangeable, but crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

When could cunning be used to replace slick?

The meanings of cunning and slick largely overlap; however, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

When would foxy be a good substitute for slick?

While the synonyms foxy and slick are close in meaning, foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

When is it sensible to use sly instead of slick?

While in some cases nearly identical to slick, sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

Where would tricky be a reasonable alternative to slick?

In some situations, the words tricky and slick are roughly equivalent. However, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When might wily be a better fit than slick?

The words wily and slick can be used in similar contexts, but wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

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 slick
Verb
During the July 25-28 road closure, crews will also install a high-friction surface treatment, which increases pavement friction even when wet weather makes the road slick, Woodrum said. Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 July 2025 Bieber’s catalogue is searching and uneven, flitting between glossy renditions of trap-pop, mid-tempo R. & B., eighties new wave, campfire Christian sing-alongs, Afrobeat, and dancehall, his slick, supple voice skimming the surface of these styles while never committing to any of them. Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 16 July 2025
Adjective
My instructor for the hour was a thin woman with blonde hair, slicked into a top bun. Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025 His body is falling apart, undone by either stress or decades of bad habits — he’s perpetually slicked in sweat, and racked by occasional bouts of debilitating internal pain. Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
Noun
In 1999, the chairman of Enfield FC sold their traditional home ground, Southbury Road, for housing and retail development, and promised to use the funds to build a slick new ground elsewhere. Michael Cox, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2025 Gil complained that the mound was slick, and the grounds crew came out to work on it in between innings. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 13 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slick
Verb
  • Meanwhile, lightly grease a 13x9x2-inch baking pan; set aside.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2025
  • With a shiny, almost mirror-like glaze, and tender ultra-moist crumb, this recipe is well worth the pain of greasing every nook and cranny of a Bundt pan to make.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Watts wore a navy blue sparkly dress paired with black mules and a slicked back hairstyle.
    Kayla Grant, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • However, her inner voice reveals a sardonic sense of humor, cunning intellect, and keen eye for details most people would miss… because Emily has a big secret.
    Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2025
  • However, her inner voice reveals a sardonic sense of humor, cunning intellect, and keen eye for details most people would miss…because Emily has a big secret.
    Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Shaw and Harry Maguire were excellent.
    Mark Critchley, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
  • And this does bode well for interior roominess, which is quite accommodating up front for a variety of heights and body types—plus tremendously comfortable standard sport bucket seats with excellent bolstering.
    Peter Nelson, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Gibson, then 34, saw the pictorial in a classy, peekaboo way and even had a clothing budget.
    Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
  • By 2010, the magazine was essentially family entertainment compared to the tidal wave of online smut, so a peek-a-boo pictorial of half-naked cybergals didn't seem so risqué.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 9 July 2025
Noun
  • During the Waleses' trip to Canada in October 1991, Diana made time between touring an AIDS hospice and a women's shelter to join William, 9, and Harry, 7, on a visit to Niagara Falls, where the trio donned rain slickers for a wet and wild voyage on the Maid of the Mist.
    Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
  • The European far right is skillfully seizing the moment, promising an agricultural overhaul and a chance to stick it to the city slickers.
    Emily Rauhala, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Noun
  • The first helicopter was dispatched in minutes to retrieve the injured girl; a second chopper followed about an hour later to bring the rest of the troop to safety.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Shortstop Gabriel Arias had chased after the chopper up the middle, so there was no chance to retire the runner heading to second.
    Zack Meisel, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Warm Wood with Brushed Brass Probably the most obvious sign your kitchen is not a member of generation alpha is warm wood cabinetry and brushed or oiled brass hardware, especially if both elements feature highly decorative details.
    Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2025
  • But the big keyhole was plain, oiled, in use.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slick. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.

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