slips 1 of 3

Definition of slipsnext
present tense third-person singular of slip
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2
3
as in sneaks
to introduce in a gradual, secret, or clever way casually slipped it into the conversation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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6
as in sheds
to cast (a natural bodily covering or appendage) aside periodically crabs slip their shells and grow new ones

Synonyms & Similar Words

slips

2 of 3

noun (1)

plural of slip
as in strips
a long narrow piece of material baskets woven from slips of wicker

Synonyms & Similar Words

slips

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural of slip
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2
as in spills
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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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 slips
Verb
Because every child who slips through the cracks does so not from a lack of potential, but from a lack of people willing to act. Ann Bullock, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026 This grade slips to a C+ if Arizona eventually relents and grants Pro-Bowl pass rusher Josh Sweat’s trade request. Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026 Charlize Theron slips on her climbing shoes to promote her new movie Apex in New York City on April 24. Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026 The group is a hit with the audience, and, in the wings, an executive for Motown Records, Suzanne de Passe (Laura Harrier), slips Joseph her card. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026 Fergus sends his sons first, but Henry-Christian slips off his brother’s back and falls. Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026 There’s also a compact coffee table that slips under the seat and turns into a makeshift tray. Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026 Few have seen the man who slips through Sacramento, leaving only anguish and a flutter of parking citations in his wake. Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026 However, Caldwell city staff said the city already has funding and right-of-way secured for the utility extensions and can build them independently if the highway schedule slips. Noah Daly april 15, Idaho Statesman, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
Ground lights add ambiance to an outdoor space while also serving as a safety feature, helping prevent slips on walkways, pool areas, and gardens after dark. Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2026 Vessels docked at the harbor’s roughly 900 slips are inspected at least every three years, Ravitch said. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026 Standards soften, performance slips, and over time the institution itself loses its edge. Jonathan Alpert Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026 Still, the slips left him unharmed and actually made it into the movie for comedic effect and to emphasize the wear and tear a realistic action hero may experience during fight scenes. Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026 Smith, 52, who was also a Baltimore City School Police Officer for nearly 20 years, created and executed fraudulent overtime slips, totaling more than $200,000. Adam Thompson, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026 The slides are equipped for indoor or outdoor use, thanks to a textured, water-resistant outsole that helps protect against slips. Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 6 Apr. 2026 The Escape Hybrid slips by in the shadow of rivals in part because of an early engine fire recall, but also because of the discontinuation of the model at the end of this model year. Robert Duffer, AJC.com, 27 Mar. 2026 Something that reflects how Dan Fogelman’s show is no longer behaving like a straightforward postapocalypse story and how this season’s narrative slips and slides through the timeline, increasingly shortchanging the series creator’s innate preference for sincerity. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slips
Verb
  • Lawrence, though, is widely regarded as a top-five player at his position, whereas Greenard falls around 15th among edge rushers in most meaningful metrics.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The 44% theory Steve Dittmore admits that his research interest, the relationship of athletics and enrollment at small colleges, falls pretty far outside of the mainstream, even in the already-niche world of sports and higher ed.
    Mark Dent, thehustle.co, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Falling back to the pack and seven points shy of San Jose, which won 4-1 at BMO Stadium on Sunday, LAFC has seen its recent MLS stumbles coincide with advancing to a two-leg CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinal, which commences Wednesday at BMO Stadium and ends May 6 in Toluca, Mexico.
    Josh Gross, Daily News, 24 Apr. 2026
  • If the student stumbles, the AI agent gives them clues, along with criticism and positive feedback.
    Jocelyn Gecker, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Ortiz sneaks field recordings and samples into these songs, too—each adding texture to the universe of her songs and evoking the wider world that exists just outside the frame of her narration.
    Marissa Lorusso, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026
  • But some sunlight still sneaks through Earth’s atmosphere, bends around the planet and lands on the moon.
    Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Boston lurks close behind at +550.
    ABC News, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
  • The Churchill Suite peers over the Ministry of Defence (where Henry VIII’s wine cellar still lurks) and was the locus of military strategising.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In contrast, natural gas is cheap, abundant, and already flows through an extensive pipeline network across the country.
    Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Velvet, marble, and brushed brass elevate the experience and the same dramatic palette flows through the corridors and into the bathrooms which come with Le Labo toiletries and a ready-to-use steam iron fitted onto the wall—an idea that won my heart.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The exhibit also sheds light on the artist’s personal life that was just as dramatic as his works.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Autopsy sheds light on cause of death Ahead of the charges against Burke, details of how Celeste died and who was under investigation remained hidden as authorities convened a grand jury and shielded investigative findings from the public.
    Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The roof flakes, the porch sags.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Their constant companion in the campaign is the Amazona 180 bag that made its debut on the Loewe runway last October, a slouchy, one-handle style that sags open when left unzipped.
    Miles Socha, Footwear News, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • And, there's such a thing as guys trips only.
    Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
  • Plus, the amount of walking that Japan trips require is no joke.
    Elaina Verhoff, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Slips.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slips. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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