as in cunning
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means
we were both impressed and outraged by the expert slickness with which the swindler fooled us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slickness
Noun
-
Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2025 -
Noted for his tenacity and cunning, Khamenei is also a man of conviction, and his hatred for the United States is deeply felt.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
In discussion with Deadline, Thornton subtlety confirmed that Elliott had joined the cast after answering a question about working with his old pals Moore and Andy Garcia.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Apr. 2025
-
But what truly fascinated him was the subtlety of its mode of action.—
Wade Davis,
Rolling Stone,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Can a video game ease anxiety, build focus, or support a child with ADHD?—
C.M. Rubin,
Forbes.com,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Perennial All-Defensive member Jrue Holiday mans the point of attack most and, like Williams does in OKC, will even start plays on centers, which allows the Celtics to switch with more ease on pick-and-rolls.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
But here, Gyllenhaal mesmerizes in a career-best performance that taps into the infinite well of his talent, portraying Iago’s scorching resentment, guile and humor.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA TODAY,
24 Mar. 2025
-
All of which is to say, Cooper is very good at playing someone adept at persuasion, either through intimidation or guile.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Slickness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slickness. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share