slicker; slickest
slickly
adverb
slickness
noun
1
a
: something that is smooth or slippery
especially
: a smooth patch of water covered with a film of oil
b
: a film of oil
2
: an automobile tire made without a tread for maximum traction (as in drag racing)
3
: an implement for producing a smooth or slick surface
4
: a shrewd untrustworthy person
5
: a popular magazine printed on coated stock and intended to appeal to sophisticated readers
6
slang
: a military helicopter without armaments that is used to transport troops or light cargo
dated, informal
: in a smooth or clever manner
"I must say they did it slick enough. They were old hands at the business."—
Jack London
Jack London
Synonyms
Examples of slick in a Sentence
Adjective
Be careful as you drive home—the roads are slick.
big corporations and their slick lawyers
The new kid had some slick moves on the basketball court.
The students did a slick job of promoting the concert.
The video game has slick graphics.
Verb
The rain slicked the roads.
slicking the bottom of their skis with wax
Recent Examples on the WebNathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
The viewer is treated to a full 1980s experience – slick streets with steam coming out heating vents, neon lit nights – combined with Hollywood touches like Hollywood backlots and sound stages.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
That’s not the case with this clear balm, which feels slick (yet not greasy) and comes with a gourmand flavor of vanilla and brown sugar.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2024
These are Hollywood level-productions, slick, punchy and incredibly damning.
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024
Adriana Cuba is especially strong as Ada, the slick, insincere and high-pressure missionary leader whose only interest is making her numbers for the year.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2024
Everything in design at the time was slick and boxy, highlighting craftsmanship, but this work wasn’t.
—Evan Moffitt, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Indeed, every shot of the characters running through Vienna’s slick, shadowy streets and tunnels is absolutely gorgeous.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2024
Roads will be slick, so leave a little extra time for any travel!
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 21 Mar. 2024
India Espy-Jones, Essence, 11 Apr. 2024
Phan wore a floaty beige mini dress for the outing, while her dark hair had been slicked back into a bun with a baby pink scrunchie.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
One side of her part is slicked down and sleek, while the other has more volume near her face and at the crown for that pompadour effect.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 25 Mar. 2024
Guests are scrubbed down with thermal salt from Sárvár, slicked with lavender and almond oil, packed with a mud mask from Lake Hévíz that draws out impurities, and enveloped in a shimmering wrap that conjures discos, all while the therapist performs a vigorous Hungarian face and body massage.
—Alia Akkam, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2024
The Dune: Part Two star wore her hair slicked back with a retro wave and rocked silver eye shadow and a glossy lip.
—Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024
With her hair slicked back into a bun, Kravitz walked the event's black carpet in a see-through black gown with a high neckline balanced out by an open back.
—Glamour, 9 Mar. 2024
On March 3, Kardashian wore a lace turtleneck dress from the luxury fashion house's fall/winter 2024-2025 collection, complete with a sheer bust, dramatic sleeve flares, and an unexpected open back emphasized by her thick, slicked back ponytail.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 3 Mar. 2024
Other guests of note included Kate Moss, 50, whose trademark blonde locks were slicked back into a knot, and Eva Herzigová, also 50, who channelled the spirit of the ’80s with her disco ringlets.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2024
Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2024
The brows anchored a soft pink and peach makeup look similar to the pastel pink outfit, with peachy blush on the apples of her cheeks, a hint of baby pink on her eyes, and a slick of pale pink gloss.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 21 Feb. 2024
The slick was spotted Thursday evening about a mile and a half offshore and is approximately two and a half miles long, the Coast Guard said in a news release.
—Cheri Mossburg, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024
Senior Sofia Del Villar of Newport Harbor (16-9) tied the score 8-8 on a slick, redirect off a weak-side drive and cross pass by Verdugo with 28 seconds left.
—Dan Albano, Orange County Register, 28 Jan. 2024
The neat braid jam is the perfect jam to slick and blend the hair with the extensions for a flawless install.
—Akili King, Essence, 17 Jan. 2024
From the water, specifically the Cantabrian Sea, come meaty and sweet anchovies with a slick of olive oil to balance their salinity.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2024
Gustavo Rainer Lugo, 26, hiking up a hill slick with mud, described himself as an aspiring TikToker documenting his own trek to the United States.
—Julie Turkewitz, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
Left to flow, the unearthed springs turn dirt roads into unstable slicks of mud.
—WIRED, 23 Dec. 2023
Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 12 Apr. 2023
That’s right, as if the movie weren’t weird enough already, come to find that Quinto’s character has an inoperable brain tumor — which goes a long way toward lowering his inhibitions and explains all three of the borderline-inept montages in this otherwise slick-looking movie.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Mar. 2023
Infotainment and Connectivity Every M4 is outfitted with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a slick-looking infotainment system that features a large 14.9-inch touchscreen.
—Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 9 Mar. 2023
The slick-fielding Marsh, 24, showed promise at the plate in his final 46 games of 2021, hitting .297 with a .761 OPS, two homers and 17 RBIs.
—Mike Digiovannastaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2022
The Mets can’t match that kind of offense – and don’t have the same solid defense that makes the slick-fielding Atlanta infield so vital to its pitching staff.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2021
Momentum has been building for Rolen, a slick-fielding third baseman who slugged 316 home runs.
—Benjamin Hoffman, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2023
With colorful lingo and slick-talking raps, E-40 and Too Short have steered the sound of the Bay Area since first emerging in the 1980s.
—Kenan Draughornestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2022
And a slick-fielding shortstop (Brody Moore) who earned regional MVP honors after hitting .533 with six RBIs, six runs and a homer.
—Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 9 June 2022
Adjective
Isaacs was also known around coaching circles for his slick communication skills with referees and coaches that often made fans in the gym laugh.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
The viewer is treated to a full 1980s experience – slick streets with steam coming out heating vents, neon lit nights – combined with Hollywood touches like Hollywood backlots and sound stages.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
That’s not the case with this clear balm, which feels slick (yet not greasy) and comes with a gourmand flavor of vanilla and brown sugar.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2024
These are Hollywood level-productions, slick, punchy and incredibly damning.
—Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024
Adriana Cuba is especially strong as Ada, the slick, insincere and high-pressure missionary leader whose only interest is making her numbers for the year.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2024
Everything in design at the time was slick and boxy, highlighting craftsmanship, but this work wasn’t.
—Evan Moffitt, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Indeed, every shot of the characters running through Vienna’s slick, shadowy streets and tunnels is absolutely gorgeous.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 27 Mar. 2024
Roads will be slick, so leave a little extra time for any travel!
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 21 Mar. 2024
Verb
After sitting in a hair salon chair for hours, edge control is the finishing touch to slick down the short, delicate hairs around the hairline.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 11 Apr. 2024
Phan wore a floaty beige mini dress for the outing, while her dark hair had been slicked back into a bun with a baby pink scrunchie.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
One side of her part is slicked down and sleek, while the other has more volume near her face and at the crown for that pompadour effect.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 25 Mar. 2024
Guests are scrubbed down with thermal salt from Sárvár, slicked with lavender and almond oil, packed with a mud mask from Lake Hévíz that draws out impurities, and enveloped in a shimmering wrap that conjures discos, all while the therapist performs a vigorous Hungarian face and body massage.
—Alia Akkam, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Mar. 2024
The Dune: Part Two star wore her hair slicked back with a retro wave and rocked silver eye shadow and a glossy lip.
—Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024
With her hair slicked back into a bun, Kravitz walked the event's black carpet in a see-through black gown with a high neckline balanced out by an open back.
—Glamour, 9 Mar. 2024
On March 3, Kardashian wore a lace turtleneck dress from the luxury fashion house's fall/winter 2024-2025 collection, complete with a sheer bust, dramatic sleeve flares, and an unexpected open back emphasized by her thick, slicked back ponytail.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 3 Mar. 2024
Other guests of note included Kate Moss, 50, whose trademark blonde locks were slicked back into a knot, and Eva Herzigová, also 50, who channelled the spirit of the ’80s with her disco ringlets.
—Hannah Coates, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
Everyone loves bacon, after all, but absolutely no one wants shiny slicks of fat congealing at the top of their drink.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 30 Mar. 2024
The brows anchored a soft pink and peach makeup look similar to the pastel pink outfit, with peachy blush on the apples of her cheeks, a hint of baby pink on her eyes, and a slick of pale pink gloss.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 21 Feb. 2024
The slick was spotted Thursday evening about a mile and a half offshore and is approximately two and a half miles long, the Coast Guard said in a news release.
—Cheri Mossburg, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024
Senior Sofia Del Villar of Newport Harbor (16-9) tied the score 8-8 on a slick, redirect off a weak-side drive and cross pass by Verdugo with 28 seconds left.
—Dan Albano, Orange County Register, 28 Jan. 2024
The neat braid jam is the perfect jam to slick and blend the hair with the extensions for a flawless install.
—Akili King, Essence, 17 Jan. 2024
From the water, specifically the Cantabrian Sea, come meaty and sweet anchovies with a slick of olive oil to balance their salinity.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2024
Gustavo Rainer Lugo, 26, hiking up a hill slick with mud, described himself as an aspiring TikToker documenting his own trek to the United States.
—Julie Turkewitz, New York Times, 20 Dec. 2023
Left to flow, the unearthed springs turn dirt roads into unstable slicks of mud.
—WIRED, 23 Dec. 2023
Adverb
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo Inside, the Silverado ZR2 has a slick-looking dashboard that features a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel next to a massive 13.4-inch touchscreen.
—Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 12 Apr. 2023
That’s right, as if the movie weren’t weird enough already, come to find that Quinto’s character has an inoperable brain tumor — which goes a long way toward lowering his inhibitions and explains all three of the borderline-inept montages in this otherwise slick-looking movie.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 14 Mar. 2023
Infotainment and Connectivity Every M4 is outfitted with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a slick-looking infotainment system that features a large 14.9-inch touchscreen.
—Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 9 Mar. 2023
The slick-fielding Marsh, 24, showed promise at the plate in his final 46 games of 2021, hitting .297 with a .761 OPS, two homers and 17 RBIs.
—Mike Digiovannastaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2022
The Mets can’t match that kind of offense – and don’t have the same solid defense that makes the slick-fielding Atlanta infield so vital to its pitching staff.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2021
Momentum has been building for Rolen, a slick-fielding third baseman who slugged 316 home runs.
—Benjamin Hoffman, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2023
With colorful lingo and slick-talking raps, E-40 and Too Short have steered the sound of the Bay Area since first emerging in the 1980s.
—Kenan Draughornestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2022
And a slick-fielding shortstop (Brody Moore) who earned regional MVP honors after hitting .533 with six RBIs, six runs and a homer.
—Joe Freeman, oregonlive, 9 June 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slick.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English slyke; akin to Old English *slician
Verb
Middle English sliken, from Old English *slician; akin to Old High German slīhhan to glide
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun
1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adverb
1825, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of slick was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing slick
Dictionary Entries Near slick
Cite this Entry
“Slick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slick. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
slick
1 of 3 verb
: to make sleek or smooth
slick
2 of 3 adjective1
a
: having a smooth surface : slippery
a slick road
b
: having or showing skill and style but no depth
slick writing
2
a
: clever sense 3
especially
: tricky sense 1
b
: quick and neat in action : skillful
slickly
adverb
slickness
noun
slick
3 of 3 noun
: something that is smooth or slippery
especially
: a smooth patch of water covered with a film of oil
More from Merriam-Webster on slick
Nglish: Translation of slick for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of slick for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slick
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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