What's the difference between sleek & slick?

Question

especially when i see ads for cars, gadgets, etc, they sometimes use the word "sleek" and sometimes "slick" to describe how nice their product looks.

i think i've seen more uses of "sleeks" than "slicks" but anyway what's the difference between the two? i would like to hear your own words rather than the "dictionary" definitions.

Answer 1

sleek: More descriptive of looks...describing the lines and design of an object.

slick: More descriptive of feel...describing the experience of an object.

Just my idea :)

Answer 2

Sleek denotes an image of smooth and shiny, which can apply to new cars and gadgets, while slick can be construed as the same thing, except it has another meaning which is not so complimentary. Slick used to be a description for gangsters or underhanded people, or dishonest used-car dealers. However, in the winter time when the streets and sidewalks are covered with ice, they are also slick. So in my humble opinion, slick is probably used more than sleek. But if you're describing a chassis (whether that of an automobile or a sexy lady) a better word is sleek.

Answer 3

Sleek Meaning

Answer 4

sleek1 /slik/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[sleek] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective, -er, -est. 1. smooth or glossy, as hair, an animal, etc.
2. well-fed or well-groomed.
3. trim and graceful; finely contoured; streamlined: a sleek sports car.
4. smooth in manners, speech, etc.; suave.
5. cleverly or deceitfully skillful; slick: a sleek confidence man.
slick1 /slɪk/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[slik] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation adjective, -er, -est, noun, adverb
–adjective 1. smooth and glossy; sleek.
2. smooth in manners, speech, etc.; suave.
3. sly; shrewdly adroit: He's a slick customer, all right.
4. ingenious; cleverly devised: a slick plan to get out of work.
5. slippery, esp. from being covered with or as if with ice, water, or oil.
6. deftly executed and having surface appeal or sophistication, but shallow or glib in content; polished but superficial; glib: a writer who has mastered every formula of slick fiction.
7. Slang. wonderful; remarkable; first-rate.
–noun 8. a smooth or slippery place or spot or the substance causing it: oil slick.

Answer 5

To me, sleek implies well groomed (like the glow on an animal's pelt), smooth, neat and fast.
Slick, to me, implies oily, slippery, and is not really what I'd want in a car.

Answer 6

Sleek has nothing to do with moisture. Slick does. (lol)

Answer 7

sleek means smooth and straight(when refering to hair). Slick means the same but with a little shine/glisten to it.

Answer 8

Sleek = sexy and slick=slippery

Answer 9

slick can be someone's nickname, like in Men in Black.
sleek is not slippery, like slick is.