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 LondonExamples 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 Web
Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
The thin coating will create a slick barrier that helps ingredients slide right out, keeping honey, molasses, maple syrup, and other sticky ingredients from being left behind in the cup after measuring.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Glam was kept bronzed, with oil-spill black talon nails changed to a sheer satiny pink, and her hair slicked back in a tight bun, extra-long, teeny, tiny braids let down later.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2025
Will Richard scored three points and had a slick behind-the-back assist to Trayce Jackson-Davis for a third-quarter dunk.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 6 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for slick
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Adjective
The combination of snow and strong winds is expected to reduce visibility, create slick and icy roads—particularly on bridges and overpasses—and potentially down trees or branches.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
The thin coating will create a slick barrier that helps ingredients slide right out, keeping honey, molasses, maple syrup, and other sticky ingredients from being left behind in the cup after measuring.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
Her hair was slicked back into a bun.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Glam was kept bronzed, with oil-spill black talon nails changed to a sheer satiny pink, and her hair slicked back in a tight bun, extra-long, teeny, tiny braids let down later.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
That creamy spread gets sandwiched between tortillas, topped with cheese, and fried in a slick of oil until crisp.
—Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 14 Oct. 2025
Will Richard scored three points and had a slick behind-the-back assist to Trayce Jackson-Davis for a third-quarter dunk.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 6 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for slick
Cite this Entry
“Slick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slick. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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