Word forms: comparative slicker, superlative slickest, plural, 3rd person singular presenttense slicks, present participle slicking, past tense, past participle slicked
1. adjective
A slick performance, production, or advertisement is skilful and impressive.
There's a big difference between an amateur movie and a slick Hollywood production.
His style is slick and visually exciting.
Synonyms: efficient, professional, smart, smooth More Synonyms of slick
slicklygraded adverb [ADVERB with verb]
The products had been slickly marketed.
slicknessuncountable noun
These actors and directors brought a new sophistication and slickness to modern theatre.
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A slick action is done quickly and smoothly, and without any obvious effort.
The goal that sealed the points was an exhibition of slick passing football.
...a slick gear change.
Synonyms: skilful, deft, adroit, dextrous More Synonyms of slick
3. adjective
A slick person speaks easily in a way that is likely to convince people, but is not sincere.
[disapproval]
Don't be fooled by slick politicians.
...a slick, suit-wearing detective.
Synonyms: glib, smooth, sophisticated, plausible More Synonyms of slick
slicknessuncountable noun
He had the slickness but not the sharpness.
4. countable noun
A slick is the same as an oil slick.
Experts are trying to devise ways to clean up the huge slick.
5. verb
If someone slicks their hair back, they make it flat, smooth, and shiny by putting oil or water on it.
She had slicked her hair back. [V with back/down]
He slicked down his few remaining wisps of gray hair. [V with back/down]
His hair was slicked carefully into waves. [beVERB-ed preposition]
Synonyms: smooth, oil, grease, sleek More Synonyms of slick
More Synonyms of slick
slick in British English
(slɪk)
adjective
1.
flattering and glib
a slick salesman
2.
adroitly devised or executed
a slick show
3. informal, mainly US and Canadian
shrewd; sly
4. informal
superficially attractive
a slick publication
5. mainly US and Canadian
smooth and glossy; slippery
noun
6.
a slippery area, esp a patch of oil floating on water
7.
a chisel or other tool used for smoothing or polishing a surface
8.
the tyre of a racing car that has worn treads
verb(transitive)
9. mainly US and Canadian
to make smooth or sleek
10. US and Canadian informal(usually foll by up)
to smarten or tidy (oneself)
11. (often foll by up)
to make smooth or glossy
Derived forms
slickly (ˈslickly)
adverb
slickness (ˈslickness)
noun
Word origin
C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic, Norwegian slikja to be or make smooth
slick in American English
(slɪk)
verb transitive
1.
to make sleek, glossy, or smooth
2. Informal
to make smart, neat, or tidy
usually with up
adjective
3.
sleek; glossy; smooth
4.
slippery; oily, as a surface
5.
accomplished; adept; clever; ingenious
6. Informal
clever in deception or trickery; deceptively plausible; smooth
a slick alibi
7. Informal
having or showing skill in composition or technique but little depth or literary significance
a slick style of writing
8. Slang, Obsolete
excellent, fine, enjoyable, attractive, etc.
noun
9. US
a.
a smooth area on the surface of water, as resulting from a layer of oil
b.
an oily layer on the surface of water
c.
a slippery, oily area on the surface of a road
10.
something used for smoothing and polishing, as any of various tools with broad, flat blades
11. US, Informal
a magazine printed on paper with a glossy finish
see also pulp
adverb
12.
smoothly, cleverly, deftly, easily, etc.
Derived forms
slickly (ˈslickly)
adverb
slickness (ˈslickness)
noun
Word origin
ME slikien < OE slician, to make smooth, akin to ON slikr, smooth < IE *(s)leig-, slimy, to smooth, glide < base *(s)lei-: see slide
Examples of 'slick' in a sentence
slick
His slick jumping will make him hard to catch.
The Sun (2011)
Now the look is modern and slick with whitewashed walls and designer furniture.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Brush back and slick down stray hairs.
The Sun (2008)
Slick dance production with classic songwriting at its heart was an irresistible combination.
The Sun (2013)
The best accessories are a slick bun and lip shine.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And keep it clean with a slick of red lipstick.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The plot is well constructed and the action is slick.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You simply do not see this team carving an opponent apart with slick passing.
The Sun (2016)
But look more closely and you will see it is shiny and slick and layered.
Richard Fortey THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)
They do not have rich alumni or slick fundraising operations.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It took only seconds for the tub to become an oil slick.
Christianity Today (2000)
They fear the death toll will soar if the huge slick is swept ashore during the upcoming hurricane season.
The Sun (2010)
The steering is light and responsive and gear changes are now as slick and smooth as the best opposition.
The Sun (2011)
Just that the move was slick.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The look was modern and slick.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They walked slower and slower, placing each foot carefully on this slick surface.
Kerr, Katharine A Time of War (1993)
He likes his hair to be slick and straight, and for his skin to look tanned.
The Sun (2008)
The club may be glossy and slick, but what of the rest of the country?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The resort was recently refurbished, with bedrooms given a slick new look.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Gear changes are slick whether you get the five or six-speed manuals or the automatic.
The Sun (2008)
It was the sort of slick move that had the home team's stamp all over it.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You recognise genuine people and won't be fooled by those who make slick promises.
The Sun (2009)
Word lists with
slick
tool
In other languages
slick
British English: slick ADJECTIVE
A slick performance, production, or advertisement is skilful and impressive.
There's a big difference between an amateur video and a slick studio production.
American English: slick
Brazilian Portuguese: jeitoso
Chinese: 娴熟的
European Spanish: logrado
French: bien ficelé
German: professionell
Italian: brillante
Japanese: 素晴らしい
Korean: 매끄러운
European Portuguese: jeitoso
Latin American Spanish: logrado
Chinese translation of 'slick'
slick
(slɪk)
adj
[performance, advertisement]巧妙的 (qiǎomiào de)
[movement, gear change]娴(嫻)熟的 (xiánshú de)
(pej, = clever) 圆(圓)滑的 (yuánhuá de)
n(c)
浮油 (fúyóu)
1 (adjective)
Definition
skilfully devised or executed
His style is slick and visually exciting.
Synonyms
efficient
a highly efficient worker
professional
She told me we'd done a really professional job.
smart
smooth
streamlined
streamlined companies using cheap freelance staff
masterly
sharp
deft
well-organized
adroit
2 (adjective)
Definition
skilfully devised or executed
a slick gear change
Synonyms
skilful
his skilful use of light and shade
deft
Her movements were neat and deft.
adroit
She is a remarkably adroit politician.
dextrous
dexterous
As people grow older they generally become less dexterous.
professional
polished
a polished performance
Opposites
amateur
,
crude
,
clumsy
,
unprofessional
,
amateurish
,
unpolished
,
inexpert
,
unaccomplished
,
unskilful
3 (adjective)
Definition
well-made and attractive, but superficial
a slick, suit-wearing detective
Synonyms
glib
He is full of glib excuses for his past mistakes.
a glib sales executive
smooth
a smooth-talking movie villain
sophisticated
plausible
He was so plausible he conned us all.
polished
Nic is polished, charming and articulate.
specious
The Duke was not convinced by such specious arguments.
meretricious
meretricious ads that claim their product to be the best around
4 (adjective)
Definition
slippery
his greasy, slick hair-do
Synonyms
glossy
glossy black hair
The leaves were dark and glossy.
smooth
The flagstones were worn smooth by centuries of use.
shiny
a shiny new sports car
greasy
She called him `a greasy little sycophant'.
oily
He asked in an oily voice what he could do for them today.
silky
I stroked her silky hair.
lustrous
a head of thick, lustrous, wavy brown hair
(verb)
Definition
to make smooth or shiny
She had slicked her hair.
Synonyms
smooth
oil
A crew of assistants oiled the mechanism until it worked perfectly.
grease
sleek
plaster down
make glossy
smarm down (British, informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adroit
Definition
quick and skilful in how one behaves or thinks
She is a remarkably adroit politician.
Synonyms
skilful,
able,
skilled,
expert,
bright,
clever,
tasty (British, informal),
apt,
cunning,
ingenious,
adept,
deft,
nimble,
masterful,
proficient,
artful,
quick-witted,
dexterous,
neat
in the sense of deft
Definition
quick and skilful in movement
Her movements were neat and deft.
Synonyms
skilful,
able,
expert,
clever,
neat,
handy,
adept,
nimble,
proficient,
agile,
adroit,
dexterous
in the sense of dexterous
Definition
possessing or done with dexterity
As people grow older they generally become less dexterous.
Synonyms
skilful,
able,
expert,
quick,
masterly,
active,
neat,
handy,
apt,
ingenious,
adept,
deft,
nimble,
proficient,
agile,
adroit,
nimble-fingered
Synonyms of 'slick'
slick
Explore 'slick' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of greasy
Definition
excessively pleasant or flattering in an insincere manner
She called him `a greasy little sycophant'.
Synonyms
sycophantic,
fawning,
grovelling,
ingratiating,
smooth,
slick,
oily,
unctuous,
smarmy (British, informal),
toadying
in the sense of lustrous
a head of thick, lustrous, wavy brown hair
Synonyms
shining,
bright,
glowing,
sparkling,
dazzling,
shiny,
gleaming,
glossy,
shimmering,
radiant,
luminous,
glistening,
burnished
in the sense of meretricious
meretricious ads that claim their product to be the best around
Synonyms
false,
hollow,
bogus,
put-on,
mock,
sham,
pseudo (informal),
counterfeit,
spurious,
deceitful,
insincere,
specious,
phoney or phony (informal)
in the sense of oil
Definition
to lubricate with oil or apply oil to
A crew of assistants oiled the mechanism until it worked perfectly.
Synonyms
lubricate,
grease,
make slippery
in the sense of oily
Definition
attempting to gain favour by insincere behaviour and flattery
He asked in an oily voice what he could do for them today.
Synonyms
sycophantic,
smooth,
flattering,
slick,
plausible,
hypocritical,
fawning,
grovelling,
glib,
ingratiating,
fulsome,
deferential,
servile,
unctuous,
obsequious,
smarmy (British, informal),
mealy-mouthed,
toadying
in the sense of plausible
Definition
apparently trustworthy or believable
He was so plausible he conned us all.
Synonyms
glib,
smooth,
specious,
smooth-talking,
smooth-tongued,
fair-spoken
in the sense of polished
Definition
done or performed well or professionally
a polished performance
Synonyms
accomplished,
professional,
masterly,
fine,
expert,
outstanding,
skilful,
adept,
impeccable,
flawless,
superlative,
faultless
in the sense of polished
Nic is polished, charming and articulate.
Synonyms
elegant,
sophisticated,
refined,
polite,
cultivated,
civilized,
genteel,
suave,
finished,
urbane,
courtly,
well-bred
in the sense of professional
Definition
displaying a high level of competence or skill
She told me we'd done a really professional job.
Synonyms
expert,
experienced,
finished,
skilled,
masterly,
efficient,
crack (slang),
polished,
practised,
ace (informal),
accomplished,
slick,
competent,
tasty (British, informal),
adept,
proficient
in the sense of shiny
Definition
bright and polished
a shiny new sports car
Synonyms
bright,
gleaming,
glossy,
glistening,
polished,
burnished,
lustrous,
satiny,
sheeny,
agleam,
nitid (poetic)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of silky
Definition
soft, smooth, and shiny
I stroked her silky hair.
Synonyms
smooth,
soft,
sleek,
velvety,
silken,
lustrous,
satiny
in the sense of specious
Definition
apparently correct or true, but actually wrong or false
The Duke was not convinced by such specious arguments.