“Slippery” describes a surface or situation that lacks grip or is difficult to hold onto, often resulting in sliding or falling. It can be used literally, such as describing wet or icy roads, or figuratively, to refer to something that is tricky, unreliable, or deceptive. For instance, a “slippery slope” refers to a situation that can easily become worse, and a “slippery character” refers to someone untrustworthy or evasive. The term emphasizes instability and the challenge of maintaining control.
Sample Sentences Using “Slippery”:
- Be careful when walking on the icy pavement; it’s very slippery.
- The soap fell out of my hands because it was too slippery to hold.
- Negotiating with him felt like dealing with a slippery character who evaded every question.
- After the rain, the roads became so slippery that driving was hazardous.
- She warned us about the slippery rocks near the waterfall.
- Trusting him is like stepping onto a slippery slope; you never know what will happen next.
- The wet floor in the kitchen was dangerously slippery.
- It’s a slippery argument that relies on assumptions rather than facts.
- His promise seemed slippery, full of loopholes and vague assurances.
- The politician’s slippery responses made it hard to determine where he truly stood.
Synonyms of “Slippery”:
- Slick
- Greasy
- Icy
- Smooth
- Unstable
- Treacherous
- Shiny
- Tricky
- Slithery
- Glossy
Antonyms of “Slippery”:
- Rough
- Coarse
- Stable
- Dry
- Sticky
- Grippy
- Firm
- Reliable
- Solid
- Trustworthy
Related Words:
- Slipperiness
- Slide
- Glide
- Fall
- Hazardous
- Unsteady
- Wobbly
- Evasive
- Shifty
- Deceptive
Related Expressions:
- “Lose your footing”
- “A slippery slope”
- “On thin ice”
- “Hard to pin down”
- “Slide out of control”
Related Phrasal Verbs:
- “Slip on” (to lose footing due to a slippery surface)
- “Glide over” (to move smoothly across something slippery)
- “Fall over” (to topple due to a lack of grip)
- “Hold on” (to maintain grip on a slippery surface or situation)
- “Wipe out” (to fall, especially in a slippery environment)
Related Idioms:
- “A slippery slope” (a situation that leads to progressively worse outcomes)
- “On thin ice” (being in a risky or precarious situation)
- “Skating on thin ice” (engaging in risky behavior)
- “Hard to grasp” (difficult to understand or hold onto, figuratively)
- “Slippery as an eel” (describing someone evasive or hard to catch)
- “Like trying to hold water” (describing something or someone difficult to keep a hold of, literally or metaphorically)
- “Walking a fine line” (balancing in a tricky or precarious situation)
- “In a tight spot” (finding oneself in a difficult or slippery situation)
- “Like oil on a slope” (a situation that quickly spirals out of control)
- “Slip through the cracks” (to evade detection or escape responsibility).
