slippery slope

noun

: a course of action that seems to lead inevitably from one action or result to another with unintended consequences

Examples of slippery slope in a Sentence

His behavior will lead him down a slippery slope to ruin.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Saudi Arabia has also made inroads in football, boxing and golf, and former world No. 1 John McEnroe has called it a slippery slope for tennis. Adam Zagoria, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024 Spiritual practices and beliefs can be a slippery slope for folks with magical thinking OCD. Erica Sloan, SELF, 2 Oct. 2024 Rhaenyra Targaryen: 6 points The business of war is a slippery slope and Rhaenyra is going wheeeeeee all the way down it. Brian Grubb, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2024 Voters should not head down that slippery slope of retribution. Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, The Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for slippery slope 

Word History

First Known Use

1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slippery slope was in 1951

Dictionary Entries Near slippery slope

Cite this Entry

“Slippery slope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slippery%20slope. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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