Provided by the present invention is an additive for a slurry being capable of inhibiting viscosity elevation and dehydration at high temperatures at low cost, through use for a slurry for civil engineering and construction (for example, a drilling mud and a drilling cement slurry for use in well drilling. etc.), and the like. A powdery additive for a slurry, the powdery additive containing a vinyl alcohol polymer, which has: a solubility of 25% or less when immersed in hot water at 60° C. for 3 hours; a degree of saponification of at least 99.5 mol %; an average degree of polymerization of at least 1,500 and 4,500 or less; and the amount of 1,2-glycol linkage of 1.8 mol % or less, the powdery additive being capable of passing through a sieve having a nominal mesh opening size of 1.00 mm.