slight

adjective \ ˈslīt \

|Updated on: 7 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: slight in a Sentence

Definition of slight

1 a : having a slim or delicate build : not stout or massive in body

b : lacking in strength or substance : flimsy, frail

c : deficient in weight, solidity, or importance : trivial

a slight movie

2 : small of its kind or in amount

a slight chance

a slight odor of gas

—

slightly

adverb

—

slightness

noun

See slight defined for English-language learners

See slight defined for kids

Examples of slight in a Sentence

There is a slight chance of rain.
Her head is tilted at a slight angle in the picture.
If you have even the slightest doubt, then don't do it.

Recent Examples of slight from the Web

The new bar was previously called the Rabbit Hole, just like a sister concept in Chicago, but since there are slight differences, the owners decided to rename the Phoenix spot.

— kellie hwang, azcentral, "Alice in Wonderland-themed bar Hatter and Hare now open in Phoenix," 12 July 2018
There were a few slight differences with Meghan's dress today and her wedding look, of course.

— lauren alexis fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "Meghan Markle Wore The Little Black Dress Version Of Her Wedding Gown," 10 July 2018
Although self-control and willpower are often used synonymously, there is a slight difference.

— paul c. brunson, USA TODAY, "Paul C. Brunson: These 3 books are the best ever written on self-control and willpower," 5 July 2018
But even a slight change in nutrients commonly found in farm fields or canals that contain stormwater runoff can cause heavy damage and choke marshes with cattails.

— jenny staletovich, miamiherald, "Could raising a 90-year-old road fix South Florida's water problems?," 18 June 2018
There are various blog posts about this, and the general answer is that there’s a slight difference in ingredients that make Bye Bye last longer.

— kathleen hou, The Cut, "The Best New No-Makeup-Makeup Tinted Moisturizer," 30 May 2018
Where the two lines crossed there was a slight difference in their levels.

— arthur hart, idahostatesman, "In Idaho's early 1900s, linking Boise-area cities by rail was much celebrated | Idaho Statesman," 26 May 2018
There were slight differences between the two, however.

— Washington Post, "Law aimed at helping poor areas of Va. shows power — and limits — of bipartisanship," 20 May 2018
Wagner and Mango have criticized each other’s campaigns for slight differences or shifts in their stances on real estate taxes or other tax issues.

— laura mccrystal, Philly.com, "Two of the three GOP candidates for Pa. governor want to eliminate property taxes. Could it happen?," 10 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'slight.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of slight

Middle English, smooth, slight, probably from Old English sliht- (in eorth-slihtes level with the ground); akin to Old High German sleht smooth, slīhhan to glide — more at ²slick

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

slight Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of slight

thin, slender, slim, slight, tenuous mean not thick, broad, abundant, or dense. thin implies comparatively little extension between surfaces or in diameter, or it may imply lack of substance, richness, or abundance.

- thin wire
- a thin soup

slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.

- the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness.

- a slim volume of poetry
- a slim chance

slight implies smallness as well as thinness.

- a slight build

tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.

- a tenuous thread

slight

verb

Definition of slight

slighted; slighting; slights

transitive verb

1 : to treat as slight or unimportant : make light of

2 : to treat with disdain or indifference

slight a guest

3 : to perform or attend to carelessly and inadequately

don't slight your work

See slight defined for English-language learners

Examples of slight in a Sentence

I'm sure he didn't mean to slight you.
He was slighted by his colleagues.

Recent Examples of slight from the Web

Pregnant women and mothers are often perceived as less committed, steered away from prestigious assignments, excluded from client meetings and slighted at bonus season.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Pregnancy discrimination is rampant inside America’s biggest companies," 16 June 2018
Would the other child, our daughter, feel slighted and less loved?

— New York Times, "Should I Go to a College I’ve Been Admitted to as a Legacy?," 22 May 2018
But in their shared time on The Bachelor, Booth slighted Martinez.

— rebecca farley, refinery29.com, "Bekah Martinez Refuses To Play By The Rules Of Bachelor Nation," 22 June 2018
However, some fans see the move to Golf Channel as slighting the NHL, wondering why NBC didn’t use the NHL Network as the home for the games.

— kevin allen, USA TODAY, "Why Golf Channel is broadcasting NHL playoff games," 18 Apr. 2018
Curry, whose defense is often slighted and even ridiculed, was targeted by the Cavs and LeBron in this series, and came out smelling of James’ cologne.

— scott ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, "Stephen Curry started — and carried — a Warriors’ dynasty," 8 June 2018
Terrell Owens might still feel slighted by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

— peter dawson, star-telegram, "Why is Terrell Owens not attending his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony?," 7 June 2018
The ones who do get a leading role are often slighted during awards season—not a single Latino actor or actress was nominated for any of the four acting categories during the 2018 Oscars.

— megan ditrolio, Marie Claire, "America Ferrera Is DONE being Put in a Box," 22 May 2018
For all the stability of the State v. Defendant regime, the courts had for centuries slighted crimes against women, whose powerlessness before the state—in the form of an all-male bench and bar—really did rival that of criminal defendants.

— jill lepore, The New Yorker, "The Rise of the Victims’-Rights Movement," 14 May 2018

First Known Use of slight

1586

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

slight Synonyms

Synonyms

contemn, disdain, disrespect, high-hat, look down (on or upon), scorn, sniff (at), snub;

Antonyms

honor, respect;

Near Antonyms

cherish, prize, treasure, value;

admire, esteem, lionize;

hallow, revere, venerate, worship;

accept, appreciate, approve (of), care (for), countenance, favor, OK (or okay), subscribe (to);

Related Words

scout;

abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe;

belittle, deplore, deprecate, disparage;

disapprove (of), discountenance, disfavor, frown (on or upon);

Phrases

look down one's nose (at), sneeze at, thumb one's nose (at), walk over;

Synonym Discussion of slight

neglect, disregard, ignore, overlook, slight, forget mean to pass over without giving due attention. neglect implies giving insufficient attention to something that merits one's attention.

- habitually neglected his studies

disregard suggests voluntary inattention.

- disregarded the wishes of his family

ignore implies a failure to regard something obvious.

- ignored the snide remark

overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care.

- in my rush I overlooked a key example

slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting.

- slighted several major authors in her survey

forget may suggest either a willful ignoring or a failure to impress something on one's mind.

- forget what others say

slight

noun

Definition of slight

1 : an act or an instance of slighting

2 : an instance of being slighted : a humiliating discourtesy

Examples of slight in a Sentence

refused to respond to their petty slights

Recent Examples of slight from the Web

Prince William selected his cousin Zara Tindall as a spiritual guide for his firstborn over his younger brother, but the move shouldn't read as a slight.

— caroline picard, Good Housekeeping, "The Royal Christening Quiz You Have to Take Before Prince Louis's Baptism," 8 July 2018
The slight tempering served Plein to positive effect—at the end of the evening, which was closed by Paris Hilton in a body-suit beneath an unzipped boiler-suit, one walked away with a feeling of genuinely having had a good time.

— nick remsen, Vogue, "Philipp Plein Serves Up a Tennis-Themed Sport Collection in Milan," 17 June 2018
While both operate under the same roof, a slight of one might not necessarily be problematic for the other.

— jim ayello, Indianapolis Star, "Insider: McLaren seems destined to be part of IndyCar's future — one way or another," 4 June 2018
Hutus and Tutsis who had previously lived peaceably start killing each other in a frenzy of recriminations for ancient slights.

— New York Times, "A French-Rwandan Rap Star Turned Novelist From Burundi," 29 May 2018
Asa Mathat The bitterest boardroom battle in recent memory has turned on a series of slights, verbal jousting and a physical altercation involving hands on a face that could determine the futures of both CBS and Viacom.

— edmund lee, Recode, "Shari Redstone’s endgame for CBS and Viacom is clear in this new complaint," 29 May 2018
Whatever the specs, the board features a single concave into a slight V out the back, making for rapid transitions from rail to rail.

— Outside Online, "The Best Surfboards of 2018," 15 May 2018
Thus, there was no way to interpret the comment as anything other than a sexist slight, despite Newton’s insistence to the contrary.

— eve l. ewing, GQ, "Bomani Jones Has a Funny Joke for You," 15 May 2018
That slight, well, dowdiness struck me to be by design, too.

— jesse oxfeld, Town & Country, "Take a Step Back in Time at the Hudson Valley's Mohonk Mountain House," 21 Oct. 2016