Slippery vs Sleek - What's the difference?
slippery | sleek |
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.
(figuratively, by extension) Evasive; difficult to pin down.
(obsolete) Liable to slip; not standing firm.
* 1602 , , III. iii. 84:
unstable; changeable; inconstant
* Denham
(obsolete) wanton; unchaste; loose in morals
* 1610 , , I. ii. 273:
Having an even, smooth surface; smooth; hence, glossy.
* Dryden
Not rough or harsh.
* Milton
That which makes smooth; varnish.
As adjectives the difference between slippery and sleek
is that slippery is 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 while sleek is having an even, smooth surface; smooth; hence, glossy.As an adverb sleek is
with ease and dexterity.As a verb sleek is
to make smooth or glossy; to polish or cause to be attractive.As a noun sleek is
that which makes smooth; varnish.slippery
English
Adjective
(er)- Oily substances render things slippery .
- a slippery person
- a slippery promise
- 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.
- The slippery state of kings.
- My wife is slippery ? If thou wilt confess –
Derived terms
* slippery as an eel * slippery elm * slippery nipple * slippery slopeSynonyms
* (of a surface) greasy, slick, slimy, slippy, wetAntonyms
* (of a surface) stickysleek
English
Adjective
(er)- sleek hair
- So sleek her skin, so faultless was her make.
- Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek .