slip 1 of 3

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as in to sneak
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way casually slipped it into the conversation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to lurk
to move about in a sly or secret manner slipped behind the cover of the trees

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to shed
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside periodically crabs slip their shells and grow new ones

Synonyms & Similar Words

slip

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noun (1)

as in strip
a long narrow piece of material baskets woven from slips of wicker

Synonyms & Similar Words

slip

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noun (2)

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as in fall
the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily had a nasty slip on the ice

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun slip differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of slip are blunder, error, lapse, and mistake. While all these words mean "a departure from what is true, right, or proper," slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes.

a slip of the tongue

When is it sensible to use blunder instead of slip?

The meanings of blunder and slip largely overlap; however, blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame.

diplomatic blunders

When is error a more appropriate choice than slip?

In some situations, the words error and slip are roughly equivalent. However, error suggests the existence of a standard or guide and a straying from the right course through failure to make effective use of this.

procedural errors

When would lapse be a good substitute for slip?

The synonyms lapse and slip are sometimes interchangeable, but lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause.

a lapse in judgment

When can mistake be used instead of slip?

The words mistake and slip are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error.

dialed the wrong number by mistake

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 slip
Verb
An eight-foot birdie look on the 7th then slipped past the cup. Jack Milko, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025 Throw on wide-leg jeans and a button-down, slip these on, and be on your merry way. Malia Griggs, Glamour, 30 May 2025
Noun
Jennifer Lopez says divorce from Ben Affleck was 'probably the hardest time of my life' The photos, which are not watermarked and show Lopez in an old Hollywood-style fur coat and white slip dress, remain up on her Instagram. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 21 May 2025 The photos, which as of Tuesday remained on her Instagram and X with no visible watermark, show her in white fur coat and slip dress, clutching a Chanel purse. Julius Miller, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for slip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slip
Verb
  • In 2023, the number of fatalities fell slightly, to six fatal boating incidents resulting in seven deaths, according to state data.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 3 June 2025
  • More housing with fewer people needing housing, prices will fall.
    Roger Valdez, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Verb
  • No one stumbled into creating a billion dollar company, gingerly broke a world record, or cautiously planned and lived their peak life.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
  • Per a fan video, at one point during the show, after spinning his microphone and tossing it towards the audience, Joel appeared to stumble, falling backwards and landing on his side.
    Marina Watts, People.com, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • But eventually, the neighbor realized Mystery had been sneaking out against his wishes, as Mystery is an indoor cat only.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
  • The Pacers, meanwhile, have solidified themselves as title contenders after sneaking their way into the conference finals last year.
    Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses.
    Real-Time news team, Miami Herald, 25 May 2025
  • Though research isn’t conclusive, studies suggest regularly consuming these sweeteners could mess with your microbiome, reducing your levels of supportive gut bugs while elevating the numbers of not-so-beneficial bacteria lurking therein.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • The iconic teen drama kept emotions flowing from 1998 to 2003.
    Jen Juneau, People.com, 24 May 2025
  • The bigger the bottleneck, the more freely the contents of the bottle flow through it.
    Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • And what will perhaps be the grossest installment promises to shed new light on the chaos that arose on a Carnival Triumph cruise ship in 2013.
    Bailey Richards, People.com, 3 June 2025
  • And in the process of remaking their roster and attempting to graft elite skill into their lineup, the Hurricanes may look to shed some commitments and reallocate cap space to more offensively gifted forwards.
    Thomas Drance, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Verb
  • The data also showed EV sales holding up well against a sagging overall auto market in Europe.
    Kevin Williams, Quartz, 22 May 2025
  • Firm mattress toppers can turn an old, sagging mattress into something that feels brand new and radically more supportive.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • There’s never been any danger that Christopher McQuarrie would trip, fall, and accidentally make Barry Lyndon.
    Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 30 May 2025
  • Piper Niven tripped Vega while Green was distracting the referee before Raw went to break.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slip. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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