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

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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.
Local authorities would rope together timber logs for a makeshift bridge, but in the rainy season, the logs would grow slippery and floods would wash them away. — Fatma Tanis, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026 The elements could be an even bigger factor than the UNC defense as rain and a slippery field could make life tough for Craig in the pocket and particularly with respect to extending plays. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026 The 6-foot-7 right-hander appeared to have issues with his landing foot on the slippery Citi Field mound. — CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 Their outsoles also flare out, giving you stable footing on uneven ground or slippery surfaces. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slippery

Word History

Etymology

slipper entry 2 + -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

Phrases Containing slippery

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slipperwort
slippery
slippery dick
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Cite this Entry

“Slippery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slippery. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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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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