What does slimy mean?
Slimy is an adjective with two widely understood meanings. Literally, it describes something covered with a slippery, moist, viscous material, as in slimy mud, pond weed, or the surface of an unpleasant stagnant pool. The physical description often conveys disgust as well as texture. Informally, slimy can describe a person, action, or situation as contemptible, deceitful, or morally unacceptable, making it a forceful word of disapproval. Both senses rely on strong sensory or emotional associations: the literal use is vivid and tactile, while the figurative use is blunt and often humorous. It is useful in both descriptive prose and informal commentary, although the figurative sense may be unsuitable in formal or delicate contexts.
adjectiveCovered in or consisting of a slippery, moist, viscous substance. In informal use, it can also mean contemptible or morally objectionable.
- Covered in or consisting of a slippery, moist, viscous substance.
- Informal: contemptible, deceitful, or morally objectionable.
"The pond was covered with slimy green weeds, and the path through the marsh was treacherous."
"After the rain, the garden path was covered with a slimy layer of moss."
"The advertisement promised a fair price but was, in fact, a slimy attempt to mislead customers."
A single word carries both a physical reaction—wet, slippery sludge—and a sharp moral judgment: something truly awful can be called slimy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does slimy come from?
The adjective developed from the English noun slime by adding the suffix -y, a productive pattern for describing a quality or substance. The word belongs to the familiar English vocabulary of wet, sticky, and unpleasant organic matter, and its modern figurative use extends that physical sense into a moral judgment.
Related word forms
How slimy is actually used
The literal sense is common in descriptions of mud, plants, animals, and ponds. The figurative sense is informal and often strongly disapproving; it is especially common in British and American informal speech.
Easily confused with slimy
Slim describes someone or something thin or narrow, whereas slimy describes something slippery, moist, or contemptible.