Something cold and slimy touched Nastya’s cheek, and she cringed, seeing it was a giant tentacle.
Source: tatoeba (2739517)
Slimy
/ˈslaɪ.mi/
Synonyms for "slimy" (162 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (33)
abjectadhesiveadulatoryamylaceousbarfyblandblandishingblarneyingbutterycajolingclabberedclammyclottedcoagulatedcomplimentarycourtierlycourtlycrappycreepingcurdled
Show 7 more words
Noun(2 words)
amphibian skindemulcent
Adjective(4 words)
Strong matches (48)
Related words (81)
mucousmuddymushynastynauseatingobsequiousodiousoilyoily-tonguedoozyordurouspastypukyputridrankrepulsiveropyrottenscabbyscummy
Show 49 more words
scurfyservileshittyslabbysleekslipperyslitheryslobberysloppysloshysludgyslushysmarmysmoothsmooth tonguedsmooth-spokensmooth-tonguedsoapysoft-soapingsordidsposhysquashysquishysquushystarchystickystodgystringysubtlesycophanticsyrupytackytenaciousthickthickenedtoadyingtoughtremelloidtremelloseuliginousunctuousvileviscidviscoseviscousvomitywheedlingwormyyecchy
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abject, adhesive, adulatory, amphibian skin, amylaceous.
- Sentence evidence is available for slimy, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "slimy".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "slimy"
Keep "slimy" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "slimy" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "slimy", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "slimy" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
4 entriesMore specific
6 entriescorrupt practicesleazy behaviorslimy coatingslimy filmslimy layerunethical conduct
Collocations
6 entriesslimy coatingslimy filmslimy layerslimy residueslimy surfaceslimy texture
Inflections
2 entriesDerivations
1 entriessimilar
3 entriesTranslations
37 translations across 18 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- слизест adj (like slime; glutinous)
Czech
3 entries- mazlavý adj (like slime; glutinous)
- slizký adj (like slime; glutinous)
- slizovitý adj (like slime; glutinous)
Dutch
1 entries- slijmerig adj (like slime; glutinous)
Esperanto
1 entries- mucida adj (like slime; glutinous)
French
4 entries- gluant adj (like slime; glutinous)
- gluante adj (like slime; glutinous)
- visqueuse adj (like slime; glutinous)
- visqueux adj (like slime; glutinous)
German
1 entries- schleimig adj (like slime; glutinous)
Italian
1 entries- viscido adj (like slime; glutinous)
Latin
2 entries- lūbricus adj (like slime; glutinous)
- vīrōsus adj (like slime; glutinous)
Middle English
2 entries- slimi adj (like slime; glutinous)
- slymy adj (like slime; glutinous)
Māori
4 entries- hahohaho adj (like slime; glutinous)
- hāwaniwani adj (like slime; glutinous)
- hāwareware adj (like slime; glutinous)
- pūrikoriko adj (like slime; glutinous)
Norman
3 entries- lîncreux adj (like slime; glutinous)
- v'lînmeux adj (like slime; glutinous)
- vâseux adj (like slime; glutinous)
Norwegian Bokmål
2 entries- slimet adj (like slime; glutinous)
- slimete adj (like slime; glutinous)
Rarotongan
1 entries- varevare adj (like slime; glutinous)
Serbo-Croatian
2 entries- ljigav adj (like slime; glutinous)
- sluzav adj (like slime; glutinous)
Slovak
1 entries- slizký adj (like slime; glutinous)
Spanish
4 entries- baboso adj (like slime; glutinous)
- empalagoso adj (like slime; glutinous)
- gelatinoso adj (like slime; glutinous)
- pegajoso adj (like slime; glutinous)
Swedish
1 entries- slemmig adj (like slime; glutinous)
Tahitian
1 entries- hāvarevare adj (like slime; glutinous)
Sample sentences
13 total sentences available.
Something green and slimy was on the rock.
Source: tatoeba (3170690)
Tom is covered in slimy goo.
Source: tatoeba (3428633)
Sea urchin has a slimy texture.
Source: tatoeba (4466795)
Showing 4 of 13 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "slimy"?
Closest matches include abject, adhesive, adulatory, amphibian skin, amylaceous.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "slimy"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.