slippery

Adjective

slippery (comparative slipperier or more slippery, superlative slipperiest or most slippery)

1. Of a surface, having low friction, often due to being covered in a non-viscous liquid, and therefore hard to grip, hard to stand on without falling, etc.
   • Oily substances render things slippery.
   • The screeching of brakes, the monotonous blare of motor horns, the clip-clip of shoes on slippery pavements, the rustling of wet mackintoshes were all part of the great metropolis.1936, F.J. Thwaites, chapter XXII, in The Redemption, Sydney: H. John Edwards, published 1940, page 214

   Synonyms:

   greasy, slick, slimy, slippy, wet, slithery

   Antonyms:

   sticky

2. (broadly, figuratively) Evasive; difficult to pin down.
   • a slippery person
   • a slippery promise
3. (obsolete) Liable to slip; not standing firm.
   • Which when they fall, as being slippery standers, / The love that leaned on them, as slippery too, / Do one pluck down another, and together / Die in the fall.c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
4. Unstable; changeable; inconstant.
   • He looking down
     With scorn or pity on the slippery state
     Of kings, will tread upon the neck of fate.1641 (first performance), [John Denham], The Sophy. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman, […], published 1667, →OCLC, (please specify the page)
5. (obsolete) Wanton; unchaste; loose in morals.
   • My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess –c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...