slippery

[ slip-uh-ree, slip-ree ]
/ ˈslɪp ə ri, ˈslɪp ri /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR slippery ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, slip·per·i·er, slip·per·i·est.

tending or liable to cause slipping or sliding, as ice, oil, a wet surface, etc.: a slippery road.
tending to slip from the hold or grasp or from position: a slippery rope.
likely to slip away or escape: slippery prospects.
not to be depended on; fickle; shifty, tricky, or deceitful.
unstable or insecure, as conditions: a slippery situation.

Origin of slippery

1525–35; alteration of slipper2; compare Low German slipperig; see -y1

OTHER WORDS FROM slippery

slip·per·i·ness, noun non·slip·per·y, adjective un·slip·per·y, adjective

Words nearby slippery

slipper foot, slipper satin, slipper sock, slipperette, slipperwort, slippery, slippery as an eel, slippery dick, slippery dip, slippery elm, slippery slope

Words related to slippery

silky, polished, unsafe, icy, unstable, wet, glistening, perilous, greasy, tricky, elusive, treacherous, smooth, slick, unpredictable, shifty, glassy, glazed, lustrous, satiny

Example sentences from the Web for slippery

British Dictionary definitions for slippery

slippery
/ (ˈslɪpərɪ, -prɪ) /

adjective

causing or tending to cause objects to slip a slippery road
liable to slip from the grasp, a position, etc
not to be relied upon; cunning and untrustworthy a slippery character
(esp of a situation) liable to change; unstable
slippery slope a course of action that will lead to disaster or failure

Derived forms of slippery

slipperily, adverb slipperiness, noun

Word Origin for slippery

C16: probably coined by Coverdale to translate German schlipfferig in Luther's Bible (Psalm 35:6); related to Old English slipor slippery