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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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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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
To the north, Canada also slipped down the ladder but remains well ahead of the US, coming in at 18 after hovering around 15 for the last few years. — New Atlas, 21 Mar. 2025 But February’s downturn in Swiss watch exports also affected most top markets, with Japan slipping back to sixth place due to a 19 percent tumble. — Lily Templeton, WWD, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
Running into an on-demand and part-time 4WD transfer case with an automatic limited slip differential, into a multi-link rear suspension system, for incredible on-road and off-road stability, safety and control 24/7. — Tony Leopardo, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2025 David, 49, opted for a classic black suit and white shirt combo, while Harper wore a slip dress similar to the one worn by Apostel, except the teen's was mocha brown. — Sabienna Bowman, People.com, 7 Mar. 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
  • Amid controversy and lukewarm reviews, the opening weekend haul falls short of Tim Burton’s Dumbo, which opened to $45 million in 2019.
    — Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Still, relative humidity values are expected to fall below 25 percent outside of the mountains and around 25 percent in the mountain valleys, with higher values in the higher elevations.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of fall
Verb
  • Everything will then be sold – unless he’s stumbled across a famous ball.
    — Don Riddell, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
  • The main character, a married artist in her mid-forties, sets out from her Los Angeles home, stumbles into a psychosexual dynamic with a young rental-car attendee, and decides to remodel a motel room into a love nest.
    — Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of stumble
Verb
  • North Carolina snuck into the men’s draw as the final team chosen, a notable decision given that a) UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham is chair of the selection committee, and b) Cunningham earned a $68,000 bonus for the Tar Heels’ selection.
    — Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Among the messages from Kori found by police were texts that called the girl beautiful, asked her to sneak out and come visit him.
    — John Lynch, arkansasonline.com, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of sneak
Verb
  • Kirk Cousins lurks as a possible target down the line if the Falcons ever let him out of Atlanta.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Karan’s bent-toed geckos were found lurking at night on rocks and boulders along a trail between villages, the study said.
    — Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of lurk
Verb
  • Conversation flowed into dinner, where the crowd discovered another accessory waiting for them: a luggage tag, ready for the next trip.
    — Kristen Tauer, WWD, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The river flows at a steady pace, making for a relaxing tubing experience that is good for families or large groups.
    — Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of flow
Verb
  • As Adolescence sheds light on the growing online radicalization of young men, Jack Thorne is attempting to make a difference.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2025
  • London time, while the French CAC 40 was 0.7% lower and the German DAX shed nearly 1%.
    — Chloe Taylor,Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of shed
Verb
  • Now’s a good time to mention my other chronic pain, pain that isn’t related to my sagging breasts.
    — Nicola Dall'Asen, Allure, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Numerous auto industry analysts have attributed Tesla's recent sagging stock—and auto sales—to Musk's support of Trump and other far right candidates around the world.
    — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of sag
Verb
  • Duluth, Minnesota Amid the heatwaves throughout Europe during the summer, trips to Nordic countries offer a way to beat the summer heat of southern Europe.
    — Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Family-friendly Offerings Children are welcome at Reindeer Manor, and there are plenty of itineraries to suit young ones, especially during the holiday season, such as reindeer feeding, trips to Santa’s Village, and ski school in Levi.
    — Nicole Trilivas, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 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 26 Mar. 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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