1
as in falling
to decline gradually from a standard level
the store's quality of service began to slip after the new owners took over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stumbling
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily
be careful not to slip on the spilled oil
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in infiltrating
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way
casually slipped it into the conversation
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
5
as in flowing
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
jumped into the car and slipped behind the wheel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in shedding
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside
periodically crabs slip their shells and grow new ones
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in collapsing
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of slipping
Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
Messi picked up the ball from his compatriot Rodrigo De Paul in midfield and burst toward the backpedaling Nashville back line before slipping the ball outside to Luis Suárez.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The joy of getting home and slipping into cozy clothing is unmatched, but that doesn’t mean loungewear should be reserved for nights spent on the couch.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Gustavsson stopped the first 13 shots sent his way before New Jersey winger Paul Cotter got his first goal of the season, slipping a low shot between the goalie’s knees following Connor Brown’s set-up pass from below the goal line.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
For a time, the once ironclad dominance of men – especially White men – in the corporate boardroom appeared to be slipping.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Gerber kept the pastel color theme going with her outfit, slipping into a coordinating pink pleated skirt.
—Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Filming in the state has been slipping since the record highs of 2021.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
An op-ed about a country slipping and state failure.
—Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Women’s Power Stride Tab Socks 3-pack Designed with training in mind, this three-pack of no-show socks boasts an interior grip that keeps them from slipping during use.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
Messi picked up the ball from his compatriot Rodrigo De Paul in midfield and burst toward the backpedaling Nashville back line before slipping the ball outside to Luis Suárez.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
The joy of getting home and slipping into cozy clothing is unmatched, but that doesn’t mean loungewear should be reserved for nights spent on the couch.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Gustavsson stopped the first 13 shots sent his way before New Jersey winger Paul Cotter got his first goal of the season, slipping a low shot between the goalie’s knees following Connor Brown’s set-up pass from below the goal line.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
For a time, the once ironclad dominance of men – especially White men – in the corporate boardroom appeared to be slipping.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Gerber kept the pastel color theme going with her outfit, slipping into a coordinating pink pleated skirt.
—Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Filming in the state has been slipping since the record highs of 2021.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025
An op-ed about a country slipping and state failure.
—Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slipping
Verb
-
This just makes the upcoming six-game homestand critical for the Wild in not falling too far behind in the Western Conference.—
Joe Smith,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
After the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time since December 2024 last month, experts projected that rates would continue falling—even if ever so slightly.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Footage of a father stumbling around, apparently carrying the headless body of his baby?—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Remaining unclaimed playoff spots The final two playoff spots in the Western Conference are up for grabs, with FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake, the Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes all stumbling towards the finish line.—
Tom Bogert,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Billitier did have a hell of a story to tell about his decades of undercover work for the FBI, including several years infiltrating a Colombian drug ring in Texas.—
Steve Belanger,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Even with fewer boaters on the water, the threat of aquatic nuisance species infiltrating your favorite lake remains.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Here is Carreras profiting from that exact ploy while playing for Benfica against Barcelona in the Champions League last season, sneaking forward on the far side before receiving the switch and hammering a low cross into striker Vangelis Pavlidis to score.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Eileen’s determination to face down the boys and be accepted for her full self or Hedda sneaking around and steering everyone’s fates behind the scenes?—
Amy Nicholson,
Twin Cities,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Just below her hips was a flowing tulle design.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
-
By the next year, hundreds of thousands of dollars from people with links to the developers began flowing into the campaign coffers of state Republican lawmakers, campaign expense reports show.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Between shedding pets and messy grandchildren, shoppers agree the Levoit leaves no trail of crumbs or dust un-swooped.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Kevin Jonas is shedding his identity as the only Jo-Bro not to go solo.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The structures were sagging under the weight of so many books.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The dilapidated wooden trim and sagging porticos were spruced up a few years ago after preservationists complained to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, but the upstairs windows reveal glimpses of peeling paint, crumbling plaster, and collapsing ceilings inside.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But instead of tripping in frustration, Benioff rose to the threefold leadership challenge of correcting a media misunderstanding, pulling off another tentpole event for his company, and contributing a major economic boost to his beloved San Francisco.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Marchand had a shot on goal five seconds into the game, drew a tripping penalty 33 seconds into the game and tallied the primary assist on Mackie Samoskevich’s goal on the ensuing power play.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slipping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slipping. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share