slippery

American  

[slip-uh-ree, slip-ree] / ˈslɪp ə ri, ˈslɪp ri /

adjective

slipperier, slipperiest

1. tending or liable to cause slipping slip or sliding, as ice, oil, a wet surface, etc..

   a slippery road.

2. tending to slip from the hold or grasp or from position.

   a slippery rope.

3. likely to slip away or escape.

   slippery prospects.

4. not to be depended on; fickle; shifty, tricky, or deceitful.

5. unstable or insecure, as conditions.

   a slippery situation.

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slippery British  

/ -prɪ, ˈslɪpərɪ /

adjective

1. causing or tending to cause objects to slip

   a slippery road

2. liable to slip from the grasp, a position, etc

3. not to be relied upon; cunning and untrustworthy

   a slippery character

4. (esp of a situation) liable to change; unstable

5. a course of action that will lead to disaster or failure

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Other Word Forms

• nonslippery adjective
• slipperily adverb
• slipperiness noun
• unslippery adjective

Etymology

Origin of slippery

1525–35; alteration of slipper ²; compare Low German slipperig; -y ¹

Example Sentences

Doris and Ireland can only hope that Dupont, back from a spell on the sidelines caused by a collision with Irish players last year, isn't so slippery on Thursday.

From BBC

I tried to lock my arms inside the fork, but the branches were so slippery that I fell back into the water.

From Literature

“That is a slippery slope of theming that can go wrong really fast,” she adds.

From Los Angeles Times

I look for a stream or running water, something that could be slippery.

From Literature

“The logs were rolling and bouncing, the mud slippery … Twice I got her halfway up, twice I lost her.”

From Literature

Related Words

• glistening
• greasy
• icy
• perilous
• polished
• silky
• unsafe
• unstable
• wet