What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
slicken
Example
The mechanic slickened the gears to reduce friction. [slickened: past tense]
Example
The engineer used a special oil to slicken the surface of the machine. [slicken: verb]
smoothen
Example
The carpenter used sandpaper to smoothen the rough edges of the wood. [smoothen: verb]
Example
The artist used a brush to smoothen out the paint on the canvas. [smoothen: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Smoothen is more commonly used than slicken in everyday language. Smoothen is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while slicken is less common and often used in technical or mechanical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between slicken and smoothen?
Both slicken and smoothen are relatively formal words, but slicken may be more technical or specialized in certain contexts.
