slip 1 of 3

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as in to sneak
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way casually slipped it into the conversation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to lurk
to move about in a sly or secret manner slipped behind the cover of the trees

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to shed
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside periodically crabs slip their shells and grow new ones

Synonyms & Similar Words

slip

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noun (1)

as in strip
a long narrow piece of material baskets woven from slips of wicker

Synonyms & Similar Words

slip

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noun (2)

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as in fall
the act of going down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily had a nasty slip on the ice

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun slip differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of slip are blunder, error, lapse, and mistake. While all these words mean "a departure from what is true, right, or proper," slip stresses inadvertence or accident and applies especially to trivial but embarrassing mistakes.

a slip of the tongue

When is it sensible to use blunder instead of slip?

The meanings of blunder and slip largely overlap; however, blunder regularly imputes stupidity or ignorance as a cause and connotes some degree of blame.

diplomatic blunders

When is error a more appropriate choice than slip?

In some situations, the words error and slip are roughly equivalent. However, error suggests the existence of a standard or guide and a straying from the right course through failure to make effective use of this.

procedural errors

When would lapse be a good substitute for slip?

The synonyms lapse and slip are sometimes interchangeable, but lapse stresses forgetfulness, weakness, or inattention as a cause.

a lapse in judgment

When can mistake be used instead of slip?

The words mistake and slip are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mistake implies misconception or inadvertence and usually expresses less criticism than error.

dialed the wrong number by mistake

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 slip
Verb
Eleven minutes into the June 27 presidential debate, CNN anchor Dana Bash slipped a note to her colleague Jake Tapper after President Biden gave a rambling, incoherent answer. Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025 For the week ending May 18, about 14 shows that were in the running for nominations reported box office slips, however small, from the previous week. Greg Evans, Deadline, 20 May 2025
Noun
The psychologist also suggests creating a ‘Mom Spa Day Kit’ with cozy socks, a face mask, relaxing tea, playlist and handwritten permission slip to do nothing. Anna Haines, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025 Take after the actress by pairing it with a leather jacket, or copy reviewers by styling it with slip skirts, leggings, or jeans. Averi Baudler, People.com, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for slip
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slip
Verb
  • More: Stocks fall, Dow down 800 points as bonds tank amid tax debate.
    Riley Beggin, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Long-term Treasuries fell further Thursday; and yields, which trade in opposite direction to prices, continued to surge.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • Per a fan video, at one point during the show, after spinning his microphone and tossing it towards the audience, Joel appeared to stumble, falling backwards and landing on his side.
    Marina Watts, People.com, 23 May 2025
  • No one stumbled into creating a billion dollar company, gingerly broke a world record, or cautiously planned and lived their peak life.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • But eventually, the neighbor realized Mystery had been sneaking out against his wishes, as Mystery is an indoor cat only.
    Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
  • The Pacers, meanwhile, have solidified themselves as title contenders after sneaking their way into the conference finals last year.
    Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 27 May 2025
Verb
  • Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses.
    Real-Time news team, Miami Herald, 25 May 2025
  • Though research isn’t conclusive, studies suggest regularly consuming these sweeteners could mess with your microbiome, reducing your levels of supportive gut bugs while elevating the numbers of not-so-beneficial bacteria lurking therein.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • The iconic teen drama kept emotions flowing from 1998 to 2003.
    Jen Juneau, People.com, 24 May 2025
  • The bigger the bottleneck, the more freely the contents of the bottle flow through it.
    Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite, which had turned positive in the late morning, shed 191 points, or 1%, to touch 18,952.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • Bush Hager also shed light on what her mother, Laura Bush, is like with her dad.
    Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 22 May 2025
Verb
  • The data also showed EV sales holding up well against a sagging overall auto market in Europe.
    Kevin Williams, Quartz, 22 May 2025
  • Firm mattress toppers can turn an old, sagging mattress into something that feels brand new and radically more supportive.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025
Verb
  • Pulliam saw the coyote emerge from the nearby woods and tried to distract it by throwing rocks, but tripped in the process.
    Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 20 May 2025
  • The novelty of seeing string puppet rockers spin and levitate, often tripping and tumbling in stride to the delight of the audience, never gets old.
    Jeff Spry, Space.com, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slip.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slip. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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