slick

15 synonyms and 1 antonym for slick, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adj — Smooth and slippery, often because of a coating of liquid.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

slip

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

polished glossy neat cunning

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

smooth-talking facile foxy glib crafty knavish dodgy guileful slickness slipperiness

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

Smooth and slippery, often because of a coating of liquid.

“The road was slick with rain, so she slowed down.”

polished glossy smooth-talking facile foxy neat glib crafty cunning knavish dodgy guileful

2. adj

Impressively smooth and polished in style, sometimes to the point of seeming untrustworthy.

“The salesman gave a slick pitch that felt just a little too polished.”

Opposites

mediocre

3. noun

A layer of oil or another liquid spread across a surface.

“An oil slick spread across the bay after the tanker ran aground.”

slickness glossy slip slipperiness

How to use slick

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

oil slick slick presentation slick talker

Etymology

From Old English slīc, "sleek, smooth, crafty," tracing to a Germanic root meaning "to glide, smooth, spread."

Full origin of slick →

Frequently asked questions

What does “slick” mean?

The word “slick” means smooth and slippery, often because of a coating of liquid. In plain terms, smooth and slippery in the literal sense, or impressively polished (sometimes suspiciously so) in the figurative sense.

How do you pronounce “slick”?

“Slick” is pronounced slihk (/slɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “slick” in a sentence?

Here is “slick” used in a sentence: “The road was slick with rain, so she slowed down.”

What part of speech is “slick”?

Depending on how it is used, “slick” can be an adjective and a noun.

Where does the word “slick” come from?

The word “slick” comes from Old English. From Old English slīc, "sleek, smooth, crafty," tracing to a Germanic root meaning "to glide, smooth, spread.".

Is “slick” a common word?

“Slick” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “slick” have?

“Slick” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: smooth and slippery, often because of a coating of liquid.

What is the difference between the literal and figurative meanings of 'slick'?

The literal meaning of 'slick' describes something smooth and slippery, often because of a coating of liquid, such as a slick road. The figurative meaning describes something impressively smooth and polished in style, sometimes to the point of seeming untrustworthy, such as a slick salesman.

Is 'slick' a compliment or a criticism?

It depends on context: 'slick' can be a compliment describing something impressively polished and professional, such as slick design, or a mild criticism suggesting someone is too smooth or polished to be fully trusted.

What is an oil slick?

An oil slick is a layer of oil spread across a surface, typically water, using the noun sense of 'slick' meaning a layer of liquid coating a surface.

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slip neat polished mediocre cunning glossy dodgy crafty facile foxy glib knavish

Nearby words

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