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Synonyms

slimy

American  
[slahy-mee] / ˈslaɪ mi /

adjective

slimier, slimiest

  1. of or like slime.

  2. abounding in or covered with slime.

  3. offensively foul or vile.

slimy British  
/ ˈslaɪmɪ /

adjective

  1. characterized by, covered with, containing, secreting, or resembling slime

  2. offensive or repulsive

  3. characterized by servility

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • slimily adverb
  • sliminess noun

Etymology

Origin of slimy

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; slime, -y 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

I don’t want to ruin this friendship, but it feels slimy.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 24, 2026

Understanding how this molecular gearbox works could help researchers develop ways to stop bacteria from forming biofilms, slimy communities that cause infections and contaminate medical devices.

From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2026

"The monster itself is very Cthulhu-esque seaside horror - octopussy, tentacles, slimy, gross - that kind of thing."

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

But there is one little thing: Okra, like marshmallow root and aloe vera, is mucilaginous, meaning it can get slimy when sliced and cooked.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2025

Its fur looked slimy instead of soft and was a bloodred color.

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.