slight

adjective

\ ˈslīt

Definition of slight

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : 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

slight

verb

slighted; slighting; slights

Definition of slight (Entry 2 of 3)

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

slight

noun

Definition of slight (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : an act or an instance of slighting

2 : an instance of being slighted : a humiliating discourtesy

Other Words from slight Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about slight

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Choose the Right Synonym for slight

Adjective

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

Verb

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

Examples of slight in a Sentence

Adjective

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.

Verb

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

Noun

refused to respond to their petty slights

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Though hundreds of fans found the post to be entertaining, Delilah Belle, on the other hand, was not humored in the slightest. — Joelle Goldstein, PEOPLE.com, "Lisa Rinna Compares Her Sex Life to the Movie Fight Club Grossing Out Daughter Delilah Belle Hamlin," 19 June 2019 While these totals are a slight decrease from previous years, Chicago's inordinate violence remains a black eye for the city. — Javonte Anderson, chicagotribune.com, "Hundreds gather for annual St. Sabina rally against violence," 14 June 2019 Last year, 2,145 people were wounded with guns, a slight decrease from 2017, according to the Dominican Republic's Citizen Security Observatory. — CBS News, "Second arrest made in David Ortiz shooting," 12 June 2019 The Newport-Mesa Unified School District is projecting a slight decrease in revenues and rising expenditures in the next fiscal year, according to a budget preview presented Tuesday. — Lilly Nguyen, latimes.com, "Newport-Mesa trustees get first look at preliminary $318.9-million budget for next fiscal year," 12 June 2019 Last year, 2,145 people were wounded with guns, a slight decrease from 2017, according to the Dominican Republic’s Citizen Security Observatory. — Fox News, "Man linked to David Ortiz shooting to be charged with accomplice to attempted murder," 12 June 2019 Gunfire isn’t hiding its Dark Souls influences in the slightest, but is focused more on replayability—procedurally generated levels, tons of secrets, lots of different bosses and enemies to populate the world. — Brad Chacos, PCWorld, "Watch the biggest reveals from E3 2019's PC Gaming Show," 10 June 2019 Although Pritzker has said 97% of taxpayers will see a slight decrease under his plan, the rates can be changed — i.e., increased — by the General Assembly at any time. — Dan Mccaleb, Daily Southtown, "McCaleb: Lawmakers 'hard work' pays off for them, not taxpayers," 7 June 2019 The unemployment rate in Houston was down to a historic low of 3.5 percent in April, as the local labor market was further tightened by a slight decrease in the labor force. — Erin Douglas, Houston Chronicle, "Recent data points to healthy Houston economy: Dallas Fed," 4 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

It’s unclear if Wheeler meant to slight the IPCC on Monday. — Jean Chemnick, Scientific American, "Trump Administration Might “Re-Examine” Climate Modeling," 10 May 2019 That’s not to slight anybody or any situation or anything. — Sam Mcdowell, kansascity, "Chiefs’ Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes respond to NFL’s national anthem policy | The Kansas City Star," 24 May 2018 American politics increasingly resembles the Middle Eastern variety, where each side remembers how it was slighted yesterday and vows to exact its retribution tomorrow. — Bobby Jindal, WSJ, "Democrats, Try Some Self-Restraint," 8 Oct. 2018 Fair or unfair, All-Star appearances are one way to measure greatness, and fan voting already slights worthy small-market players. — Tom Verducci, SI.com, "Nine Innings: How Bryce Harper Is Trying to Revive His Season, What We Learned in the First Half and More," 9 July 2018 Mitchell should feel slighted by those vote totals. — Gentry Estes, The Courier-Journal, "Donovan Mitchell should feel slighted in NBA rookie of the year voting," 26 June 2018 Top of the game Panthers coach Ron Rivera is trying to figure out why Short — and the entire defensive line — seem to get slighted. — Joseph Person, charlotteobserver, "At $780,000 per game, he could be the Panthers' most underrated player," 22 June 2018 BERLIN – Berlin police say an officer has discharged his gun near the German capital's cathedral, slighting injuring a man. — Fox News, "Berlin police officer shoots, injures man near cathedral," 3 June 2018 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Bowman, a third-round pick in 2010, was fueled by slights — real and imagined — during his career. — Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, "Time healed NaVorro Bowman’s wounds from 49ers," 4 June 2019 Iguodala did not divulge the slight that inspired him to take the unusual step of a public show of support for a teammate. — Gary Peterson, The Mercury News, "Andre Iguodala sticks it to Raptors, then to those who would stick it to Stephen Curry," 3 June 2019 And nobody pays attention to detail and perceived character slights than Thrones fans. — Abby Gardner, Glamour, "Kit Harington Says Game of Thrones Fans Were 'in Denial' About Dany's Fate," 20 May 2019 This wasn’t simply a team motivated by slights and an untimely loss. — Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, "Alabama remains the team to beat in college football," 2 Jan. 2018 To be clear: this isn’t said as a slight of mighty Michigan State, which played an incredible game Sunday in defeating Zion Williamson and Duke. — Jason Gay, WSJ, "Farewell, Duke Zion. Hello, Knicks Zion?," 1 Apr. 2019 The slights are pervasive, with black model stars continually confronted with hairstylists and makeup artists unwilling to adapt to the nuances of working with darker skin and textured hair. — Janelle Okwodu, Vogue, "Models on Why Representation Matters," 9 Apr. 2019 While Soros's statement may have been the most candid and public slight at Gillibrand, anger with her continues to bubble on the left. — Eugene Scott, Washington Post, "George Soros and sexism on the left in the age of #MeToo," 11 June 2018 Benetti often encounters people at airports whose attempts at help can vertently come off as slights. — Phil Thompson, chicagotribune.com, "White Sox announcer Jason Benetti recalls 'awkward moments' because of his disability — but says we should embrace them," 17 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.