SLIPPERY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does slippery mean? 

• SLIPPERY (adjective)
  The adjective SLIPPERY has 2 senses:

1. causing or tending to cause things to slip or slide

2. not to be trusted

  Familiarity information: SLIPPERY used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SLIPPERY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Causing or tending to cause things to slip or slide

Synonyms:

slippery; slippy

Context example:

the streets are still slippy from the rain

Similar:

lubricious (having a smooth or slippery quality)

nonstick ((of surfaces especially of cooking utensils) permitting easy removal of adherent food particles)

slick (made slick by e.g. ice or grease)

sliding (being a smooth continuous motion)

slimed; slimy (covered with or resembling slime)

slipping; slithering (moving as on a slippery surface)

slithery (having a slippery surface or quality)

Also:

smooth (having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities)

Antonym:

nonslippery (not slippery; not likely to slip or skid)

Derivation:

slipperiness (a slippery smoothness)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Not to be trusted

Synonyms:

slippery; tricky

Context example:

how extraordinarily slippery a liar the camera is

Similar:

untrustworthy; untrusty (not worthy of trust or belief)

Derivation:

slipperiness (the quality of being a slippery rascal)

 Context examples 

Bases feel soapy or slippery on the skin and they can turn certain dyes blue.

(Base, NCI Dictionary)

The door was piled with bodies, and the stone floor was slippery with blood.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Cartilage is the slippery tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint.

(Osteoarthritis, NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

With the slippery grass the superior activity of Wilson would be neutralized, and he would find it harder to avoid the rushes of his opponent.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Glands in the mucosa make mucus (a thick, slippery fluid).

(Mucosa, NCI Dictionary)

Glands in the mucous membrane make mucus (a thick, slippery fluid).

(Mucous membrane, NCI Dictionary)

The grey pavement had been cleaned and scraped, but was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer passengers than usual.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Normally, internal tissues and organs have slippery surfaces so they can shift easily as the body moves.

(Adhesions, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

"Don't know a word. I'm very stupid about studying anything, can't bear French, it's such a slippery, silly sort of language," was the brusque reply.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

This is you, who have been as slippery as an eel this last month, and as thorny as a briar-rose?

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)