slick 1 of 3

verb

Definition of slicknext
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

ˈslik How to pronounce slick (audio)
1
as in slicked
having or being a surface so smooth as to greatly reduce traction roads are often slick during the first hour of a rainstorm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means a slick ad campaign that made smoking look cool and sexy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in excellent
of the very best kind that's a slick new suit you have on

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

slick

3 of 3

noun

1
as in pictorial

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in slicker

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in chopper

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 daring look was paired with blank pumps and was worn with her hair tightly slicked back. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 12 Mar. 2025 Andreeva’s curly blond hair was slicked back into a braid, and sweat dotted her teal outfit. —Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Enter the Silver Surfer — the slick and menacing (and female) villain received with screams and cheers in the CinemaCon theater. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 3 Apr. 2025 Bonus points for a slick bun and oversized sunnies. —Christina Holevas, Vogue, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
Compared to our Chicken And Rolled Dumplings recipe, slicks have less leavening, creating a skinner dumpling. —Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2025 Instead of sitting front row, Tracee Ellis Ross walked the Marni show in a deep red lip (which matched her nails), glass lids and a wet slick back. —India Espy-Jones, Essence, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slick
  1. grease
  2. cunning
  3. excellent
  4. pictorial
  5. slicker
  6. chopper
  7. oil
  8. slippery
Verb
  • The key is to bake the top layer in an ovenproof bowl greased generously with baking spray and lined with two strips of parchment paper.
    — Ana Calderone, People.com, 10 Apr. 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
Definition of grease
Adjective
  • The mean girl, as we’ve been taught to recognize her, is cunning and charismatic.
    — Shelby Stewart, Essence, 8 Apr. 2025
  • With time, cunning, and no irony, the Shuberts slew the Syndicate Goliath and built a monopolistic empire of their own that Justice Department lawyers would decades later force into an antitrust settlement.
    — Frank Rich, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of cunning
Adjective
  • That is exactly what happened for Olivia Smith’s excellent opener as Marie Hobinger hit a defence-splitting pass in to Canada’s 20-year-old rising star.
    — Caoimhe O'Neill, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
  • If so, Hamlin, in particular, is excellent at managing his tires.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of excellent
Noun
  • Skims The actor stars in the pictorial, shot by Carin Backoff, with his fiancée, model Abby Champion.
    — Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2025
  • By contrast, animation foregrounds the pictorial, which is its own aesthetic doctrine.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
Definition of pictorial
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
Definition of slicker
Noun
  • As with the 2-speed, this model’s blending wand is not dishwasher-safe, but its whisk, chopper, and jar accessories are okay on the top rack.
    — Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appétit, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Exactly a month later, de Armas and Cruise were photographed at the London Heliport, hopping out of a chopper, two nights in a row, per People.
    — Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of chopper
Verb
  • To oil this customer engagement machine, Amazon introduced Prime.
    — Christian Stadler, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Use an oil mister or a pastry brush to oil the plates, which will prevent the overuse of oil and keep excess oil from building up on the grid plates.
    — Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of oil
Adjective
  • 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
Definition of slippery

Browse Nearby Words

slicing
slick
slicked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slick. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on slick

Nglish: Translation of slick for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slick

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