slip 1 of 3

verb

ˈslip How to pronounce slip (audio)
Definition of slipnext
1
as in to fall
to decline gradually from a standard level the store's quality of service began to slip after the new owners took over

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to stumble
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily be careful not to slip on the spilled oil

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to sneak
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way casually slipped it into the conversation

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4
as in to lurk
to move about in a sly or secret manner slipped behind the cover of the trees

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5
as in to flow
to move or proceed smoothly and readily jumped into the car and slipped behind the wheel

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to shed
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside periodically crabs slip their shells and grow new ones

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slip

2 of 3

noun (1)

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

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slip

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
as in mistake
an unintentional departure from truth or accuracy a careless slip of the tongue

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fall
the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily had a nasty slip on the ice

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3
as in escape
the act or an instance of getting free from danger or confinement gave her pursuers the slip

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in trip
a wrong judgment that's not the sort of slip that a prudent person would have made

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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
Some may simply slip on while others have buttons or clasps. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025 Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill have slipped about 11% this year. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 18 July 2025
Noun
The Minimalist Ballerina With a Simple, Strappy Maxi For the ultimate minimalist, this black structured slip and white ballet flat pairing is excessively sleek. —Christina Holevas, Vogue, 27 June 2025 Front zip and back slip pockets plus a mesh zip interior provide ample room for necessities. —Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for slip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slip
  1. fall
  2. stumble
  3. sneak
  4. lurk
  5. flow
  6. shed
  7. sag
  8. trip
Verb
  • More aggressive treatment options Advertisement In particularly severe cases—especially when someone has an underlying autoimmune disease—OTC eye drops and lifestyle modifications will likely fall short.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 21 July 2025
  • The Northern Territory has previously experienced cases of falling trees causing death, per the outlet.
    — Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 21 July 2025
Definition of fall
Verb
  • Symptoms include shivering, memory loss, stumbling, confusion and sleepiness.
    — Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 23 July 2025
  • Nonetheless, everything in Yountville is a short stroll, or stumble, from Jessup.
    — Lela London, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • This snack is a great way to sneak even more protein into your kid’s diet.
    — Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 15 July 2025
  • Dianne witnessed Tiffany sneaking the card into her back pocket and confronted her.
    — Alex Gurley, People.com, 12 July 2025
Definition of sneak
Verb
  • This potential baby planet lurks at the base of one of the disk's spiral arms.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 July 2025
  • The threat of zebra mussels has always lurked over Colorado’s borders.
    — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 20 July 2025
Definition of lurk
Verb
  • All traffic flows through a single, unified policy engine with common enforcement points.
    — Etay Maor, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • The mountain slopes tend to erode when saturated, especially after wildfires, resulting in potentially deadly debris flows.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 24 July 2025
Definition of flow
Verb
  • The purchase agreement gave the state an easement for recreational access for nearly 140 acres, and another 120 acres — including the former tobacco sheds on Hoskins Road — was earmarked as farmland preservation.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2025
  • Lawmakers like Representatives Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) argue that full transparency is necessary to rebuild public trust and shed light on how prosecutors handled one of the most high-profile criminal investigations in recent memory.
    — Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 July 2025
Definition of shed
Verb
  • This reaction forms harmful compounds known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which can damage collagen fibers and potentially promote wrinkles and sagging skin.8 5.
    — Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 25 July 2025
  • Unlike cheaper chairs at this price point (even the Snow Peak!), the mesh lets air flow through and conforms to your body without soaking or sagging.
    — Chris Haslam, Wired News, 16 July 2025
Definition of sag
Verb
  • With no direct service, plane trips back to the U.S. can take upwards of 19 hours.
    — William P. Barrett, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • Filmmakers clearly constructed all these scenes, a fact that neither trips our ethical wires nor stops our biological reactions.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 16 July 2025
Definition of trip

Phrases Containing slip

Browse Nearby Words

slinks
slip
slip (into)
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Cite this Entry

“Slip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slip. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on slip

Nglish: Translation of slip for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slip

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