Synonyms of slippery

slippery

adjective

ˈsli-p(ə-)rē 

1

as in shady

given to acting in secret and to concealing one's intentions

a bar where a lot of slippery characters were known to hang out

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shady
• shifty
• dark
• slick
• sneaky
• treacherous
• furtive
• sly
• stealthy
• crooked
• cheating
• deceptive
• cunning
• clandestine
• secretive
• sneaking
• close
• wily
• tricky
• lying
• dishonest
• crafty
• artful
• devious
• foxy
• guileful
• deceitful
• duplicitous
• covert
• deceiving
• insidious
• untrustworthy
• reticent
• mendacious
• underhanded
• serpentine
• underhand
• perfidious
• closemouthed
• untruthful
• trickish
• knavish
• two-faced
• dissembling
• double-dealing
• defrauding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straightforward
• forthright
• plain
• open
• direct
• frank
• candid
• plainspoken
• trustworthy
• truthful
• aboveboard
• honest
• foursquare

2

as in elusive

hard to find, capture, or isolate

a slippery concept that we had trouble understanding

Synonyms & Similar Words

• elusive
• evasive
• transient
• temporary
• shifty
• fugitive
• inaccessible
• ephemeral
• fleeting
• passing
• evanescent
• transitory
• cagy
• momentary
• unavailable
• inconvenient
• unapproachable
• cagey
• unreachable
• unobtainable
• impermanent
• untouchable
• short-lived
• unattainable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• convenient
• available
• accessible
• obtainable
• attainable
• approachable
• reachable

3

as in slicked

having or being a surface so smooth as to greatly reduce traction

had trouble keeping upright on the slippery ice

Synonyms & Similar Words

• slicked
• slick
• greasy
• slithery
• greased
• slippy
• ground
• lubricated
• oiled
• sanded
• rubbed
• polished
• coated
• glazed
• burnished
• brushed
• waxed
• soapy
• buffed
• waxy
• shined
• scraped
• glossed
• scrubbed
• scoured
• rasped
• sandpapered
• sandblasted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• uneven
• rough
• roughened
• scuffed
• coarsened

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of slippery

The diatomaceous earth has a natural groove that keeps it from becoming slippery, even so. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 27 Mar. 2025

As the countdown to the finale begins, Abbott Elementary returns to its central plot arc of the season as the repercussions of the under-the-table deal with Girard Creek and their slippery lawyer Miles reach an apex. —Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 19 Mar. 2025

Take the slippery, softening UV Lip Balm Broad-Spectrum SPF 36, which is powered by glycerin, vitamin E, zinc oxide, and octinoxate to create a creamy sun-safe balm that soothes and protects skin for 80 minutes of water-resistant coverage. —Sarah Madaus, Allure, 3 Apr. 2025

Watch out for slippery roads: The initial half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mixture of rain, grime, and oil. —Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2025