slimy

[slahy-mee]

See more synonyms for slimy on Thesaurus.com

adjective, slim·i·er, slim·i·est.

of or like slime.
abounding in or covered with slime.
offensively foul or vile.

Origin of slimy

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at slime, -y¹

Related formsslim·i·ly, adverbslim·i·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for slimy

Contemporary Examples

The slimy, childish, petulant Viserys starts off as a symbol of everything about Targaryen rule Westeros has rejected.
Who Died and Made You Khaleesi? Privilege, White Saviors, and the Elusive Male Feminist Who Doesn’t Suck
Arthur Chu
June 24, 2014
Some are too bright, in terms of fire, and some are full of wet, slimy, nasty stuff.
Is Hell Real?
David Sessions
February 8, 2013
Yes, mold—that slimy, amorphous crud that shows up when things get damp.
Hurricane Sandy Won’t Bring a Mold Epidemic
Kent Sepkowitz
November 4, 2012
Then the idealist's slimy past seemed to catch up with him: facing police investigations, he resigned.
The Man on a Mud-Stained Horse
Gershom Gorenberg
October 22, 2012
Greg Smith woke up one morning this month, covered from head to toe in icky, slimy Vampire-Squid ink.
Goldman Sachs Executive Quits in a New York Times Piece, Did He Just Realize What Goldman Does?
Tunku Varadarajan
March 14, 2012

Historical Examples

"Dry or slimy, you would be just the same dear old Dick," she whispered.
Viviette
William J. Locke
His descent into the street was like the descent into a slimy aquarium from which the water had been run off.
The Secret Agent
Joseph Conrad
Sheet and pillow-case were slimy with oil, yet the chamois-skin bag was safe.
It Happened in Egypt
C. N. Williamson
Now and then a snake drew away its slimy length and Dick shuddered.
The Rock of Chickamauga
Joseph A. Altsheler
Frantically he tugged and tore at the slimy rope, hauling with a will and a prayer.
The Black Bag
Louis Joseph Vance

British Dictionary definitions for slimy

slimy

adjective slimier or slimiest

characterized by, covered with, containing, secreting, or resembling slime
offensive or repulsive
mainly British characterized by servility

Derived Formsslimily, adverbsliminess, noun

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

Word Origin and History for slimy

adj.

late 14c., "covered with slime; of the nature of slime," from slime (n.) + -y (2). Cf. Middle Dutch slimich, Dutch slijmig, German schleimig. Figurative sense of "morally repulsive" is first attested 1570s. Related: Slimily; sliminess.

slimy

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Related Words

Examples from the Web for slimy

Contemporary Examples

The slimy, childish, petulant Viserys starts off as a symbol of everything about Targaryen rule Westeros has rejected.

Some are too bright, in terms of fire, and some are full of wet, slimy, nasty stuff.

Yes, mold—that slimy, amorphous crud that shows up when things get damp.

Then the idealist's slimy past seemed to catch up with him: facing police investigations, he resigned.

Greg Smith woke up one morning this month, covered from head to toe in icky, slimy Vampire-Squid ink.

Historical Examples

"Dry or slimy, you would be just the same dear old Dick," she whispered.

His descent into the street was like the descent into a slimy aquarium from which the water had been run off.

Sheet and pillow-case were slimy with oil, yet the chamois-skin bag was safe.

Now and then a snake drew away its slimy length and Dick shuddered.

Frantically he tugged and tore at the slimy rope, hauling with a will and a prayer.

slimy

Word Origin and History for slimy

adj.

Origin of slimy