slick 1 of 3

as in to grease
to coat (something) with a slippery substance in order to reduce friction slicking the bottom of their skis with wax

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slick

2 of 3

adjective

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slick

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word slick distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of slick are artful, crafty, cunning, foxy, sly, tricky, and wily. While all these words mean "attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means," slick emphasizes smoothness and guile.

slick operators selling time-sharing

When is artful a more appropriate choice than slick?

Although the words artful and slick have much in common, artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness.

elicited the information by artful questioning

When can crafty be used instead of slick?

The synonyms crafty and slick are sometimes interchangeable, but crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method.

a crafty lefthander

When could cunning be used to replace slick?

The meanings of cunning and slick largely overlap; however, cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing.

the cunning fox avoided the trap

When would foxy be a good substitute for slick?

While the synonyms foxy and slick are close in meaning, foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing.

a foxy publicity man planting stories

When is it sensible to use sly instead of slick?

While in some cases nearly identical to slick, sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods.

a sly corporate raider

Where would tricky be a reasonable alternative to slick?

In some situations, the words tricky and slick are roughly equivalent. However, tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering.

a tricky political operative

When might wily be a better fit than slick?

The words wily and slick can be used in similar contexts, but wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering.

the wily fugitive escaped the posse

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 slick
Verb
The 1930’s cinematic masterpiece — focused on two slick (but loving) twins, Smoke and Stack — displays a beautiful whirlwind of passion, family differences, Black culture, and ancient folklore all wrapped up in the powerful, rich history of Delta Blues. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 29 Apr. 2025 The tires—in effect, grooved slicks—allow for improved lateral acceleration but also the ability to consistently put the four-figure horsepower down to the asphalt. Michael Teo Van Runkle, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2025
Adjective
In at least two scenes, Alex cries in extreme close-up, her face slicked by a fat tear and softly lit, the camera lingering as if to say this, too, is beautiful. arkansasonline.com, 10 July 2025 Perry wore her hair up and slicked back, with a singular piece falling over a set of sheer oval glasses. Vogue, 10 July 2025
Noun
It’s got slick R&B, raw voice-memo rock-guitar sketches, experimental collabos with Mk.gee and Dijon. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 11 July 2025 The treatment increases pavement friction, particularly when wet weather makes roadways slick, and helps to protect concrete surfaces. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for slick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slick
Verb
  • The Israeli Air Force handled Iran's air defense system with ease, so much so that Israeli pilots established air superiority over the country and greased the skids for U.S. B-2 bombers to drop their 30,000-pound payloads on two of Iran's main nuclear facilities at Natanz and Fordow.
    Daniel R. DePetris, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 July 2025
  • But language hastening Maryland Public Service Commission approval of power plants is generating concern, as well as what critics see as provisions that grease the skids for new natural gas power plants.
    Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Honest Abe is forced to scheme, relying on grit and cunning to win the votes to abolish slavery.
    EW Staff Published, EW.com, 4 July 2025
  • Of all the acts, though, Sudanese American vocalist Dua Saleh was the most subdued, swaying between heart-fluttering falsettos and cunning raps.
    Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • One of the best examples is her novel Made for Love, perhaps better known as an HBO show starring the excellent Cristin Milioti.
    The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 23 July 2025
  • Aloe vera is low-maintenance, making the houseplant an excellent option for beginner houseplant owners, who don’t have much time for excessive plant care.
    Michelle Mastro, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2025
Noun
  • By 2010, the magazine was essentially family entertainment compared to the tidal wave of online smut, so a peek-a-boo pictorial of half-naked cybergals didn't seem so risqué.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 9 July 2025
  • Bold face names abound in its 204 glossy pages including John F. Kennedy Jr., whose mother, the late Jackie Onassis, was the subject of a 1975 pictorial when a paparazzo with a long lens and a publisher with a fat wallet, shared images of her undressed.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • The European far right is skillfully seizing the moment, promising an agricultural overhaul and a chance to stick it to the city slickers.
    Emily Rauhala, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
  • For the dapper dog walker there's plenty of tweed caps and country-style rain slickers.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2024
Noun
  • The chopper circled over the skeletal remains of the Grand Canyon Lodge below.
    Stacey Barchenger, AZCentral.com, 19 July 2025
  • In the 11th, the Dodgers scored three times — a bloop run-scoring single by Freddie Freeman, an infield single on a chopper by Teoscar Hernandez which drove in a run, and a bloop RBI single to right by Pages.
    Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 13 July 2025
Verb
  • Rather than focusing on which oils to consume, the focal point should be a person's overall diet, says Christopher Gardner, a nutrition scientist and professor of medicine at Stanford University.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 8 July 2025
  • The heirloom isn’t trouble-free, Monreal says, requiring winding every month and oiling its wood once every year.
    William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2025
Adjective
  • Plus, Korean face masks, often featuring ingredients novel to American customers such as snail mucin, in unique textures like collagen-rich masks known for their slippery jelly feel—leads to a whole lot of variety.
    Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 11 July 2025
  • Airlines are responsible for de-icing their aircraft, however, airport personnel prepare for and respond to ice accumulation that can lead to slippery walkways, roadways, runways, and any other impacts to the airport infrastructure.
    Beck Andrew Salgado, Austin American Statesman, 7 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slick. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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