slight

adjective \ ˈslīt \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

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

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slightly

adverb

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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 authors found only a very slight disparity—the black pupils were suspended for an additional 0.05 days, compared with whites.

— The Economist, "Tough love falls out of fashion in America’s schools," 14 Apr. 2018
The council’s preliminary estimates have 40,100 traffic deaths across the country last year, a slight drop from 40,327 in 2016.

— mike danahey, Elgin Courier-News, "Elgin cracking down on seat belt scofflaws, distracted drivers," 12 Apr. 2018
And that pet can sense the slightest movement toward the leash, racing to the door that leads to the big, happy world.

— beth thames, AL.com, "Long-lost book revives memories of a faithful friend," 12 Apr. 2018
While that is a slight decrease from 2016, the number of arrests leading to deportation has increased from 27 percent in 2016 to 36 percent in 2017, under the Trump presidency, according to ICE data.

— thomas novelly, The Courier-Journal, "Atherton High School graduate, a refugee from South Sudan, has been deported by ICE," 12 Apr. 2018
McEnroe’s outbursts happened in public, and won’t surprise anyone with even the slightest knowledge of his history.

— alissa wilkinson, Vox, "Borg vs. McEnroe, about the 1980 Wimbledon match, fails to serve up the drama," 12 Apr. 2018
Something not so slight was the massive Caprese panini.

— anna caplan, star-telegram, "Urban Bricks' serviceable fast-casual pizza in north Arlington lacking in authenticity | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 11 Apr. 2018
Not long ago, only half the building had the red-and-white treatment, while the other was a geometric mix of orange and brown, topped with a slight curve reminiscent of a bell shape.

— nate berg, Curbed, "McDonald’s 2.0," 11 Apr. 2018
This cult has no coherent doctrine, and its structure doesn't resemble real-world cults in the slightest.

— julie muncy, WIRED, "All Games Are Illusions, But Far Cry 5 Is Nothing More," 9 Apr. 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

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

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

The plan has, meanwhile, caused great consternation at UMass Boston, where some students and professors feel slighted that Amherst gets a new campus while the Boston campus remains plagued by debt and budget cuts.

— laura krantz, BostonGlobe.com, "Baker criticizes Mount Ida leadership after college’s sudden closure," 11 Apr. 2018
Veteran residents of the working class area, where the migrant population is concentrated, had felt slighted by the deal.

— ian deitch, chicagotribune.com, "Netanyahu cancels deal with UN to resettle African migrants," 3 Apr. 2018
Still, border security was hardly the only area where the president and his most ardent fans had reason to feel slighted.

— benjamin hart, Daily Intelligencer, "5 Liberal Priorities That Were Funded in Last Week’s Budget Bill," 27 Mar. 2018
Both are sons of coaches (Farrell’s father, Bob, is an assistant at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark) who were slighted by recruiting analysts (ESPN gave Farrell a two-star grade).

— dan greene, SI.com, "Notre Dame Faces Tough Challenge Without Bonzie Colson and His Expertise in Exceeding Expectations," 8 Jan. 2018
While the news is cause of celebration, some are suggesting the Queen slighted Meghan Markle in the announcement.

— caroline hallemann, Town & Country, "No, the Queen Didn’t Shade Meghan Markle in Today’s Announcement of Her Consent," 15 Mar. 2018
While the Prize itself is awarded only to living people (a fact that spares any blame to the Nobel committee for slighting Franklin), the history of science, say many, has glossed over her central role in the discovery.

— clifton leaf, Fortune, "Brainstorm Health: Science and International Women's Day, Cigna-Express Scripts, IBM Watson and Mayo Clinic," 9 Mar. 2018
Publicly slighting millions of NRA members, and the many more millions who feel some tribal kinship with them, is unlikely to be good for any such business.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Publicly slighting millions of NRA members isn’t good for business – or America," 5 Mar. 2018
It’s hard to blame Ertz for feeling slighted on behalf of his head coach.

— robert klemko, SI.com, "Why Doug Pederson Is, Unquestionably, Coach of the Year," 6 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of slight

1586

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.