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

Most people aren’t going to pick up an iPhone XS strictly for gaming purposes — and certainly not for Fortnite alone — but those who have the latest iPhone model will get a slight advantage over Switch users. — Julia Alexander, The Verge, "Fortnite runs at 60 fps on Apple’s newest iPhones," 27 Nov. 2018 Forecasters are cautiously optimistic, but note that slight changes in Hector’s track could put Hawaii at greater risk. — Angela Fritz, The Seattle Times, "Four cyclones are churning across the Pacific. Here’s what they look like from space.," 7 Aug. 2018 Yet this slight statistical advantage does not lessen the brutality women face in a society where 10% of people are, according to one government estimate, said to be in a gang or under the influence of one. — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, "Gangs in El Salvador are using women's bodies for 'revenge and control'," 14 June 2018 The computers suggest simplification with 16…Bxe5 17.Bxe5 Nxe5 18.Rxe5 Rc8 19.Rde1 c6 and White only has a slight advantage 17.Nc6 Qf6 18.Re4! — Chris Chase, BostonGlobe.com, "Chess notes," 3 June 2018 Among the slight changes that have been made over the years are the addition of a few items, such as a salmon sandwich and sandwich. — Geoff Bruce, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "In 127-year-old building, Mequon's Landmark Inn remains true to its name," 24 May 2018 Susan Wild won in a district that is competitive, but with a slight advantage to her party and Chrissy Houlahan, who ran unopposed, could win her general. — Eliza Collins, USA TODAY, "Women are winning, but Democrats' division is still there: Takeaways from Tuesday's primary," 16 May 2018 In this case, experts said yes, but with a slight change. — Natalie Dreier, ajc, "Storm evacuations: How coin, frozen cup of water could keep you from getting sick," 15 May 2018 The difference is ever so slight, but very important. — SELF, "9 Awkward Questions You Probably Want to Ask Your New Therapist," 31 Oct. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

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 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Timberlake took pity on the search engine for its *slight* hiccup. — Heran Mamo, Billboard, "Justin Timberlake & Lance Bass Call Out Google for Thinking Shaquille O'Neal Is in *NSYNC," 22 May 2018 Because so many white evangelicals feel that their role in America is under siege, perceived slights against the notion of Christian patriotism take on an outsize effect. — Tara Isabella Burton, Vox, "What one pastor’s anti-Nike protest says about religion and nationalism in America," 14 Sep. 2018 But the North Korean dictator did not meet with Pompeo during his visit this month, viewed widely by foreign affairs analysts as an intentional slight given that the two had met on Pompeo's two previous visits to Pyongyang. — David Nakamura, chicagotribune.com, "Trump releases 'nice note' from Kim Jong Un praising progress despite setbacks in talks," 12 July 2018 The Panthers’ secondary has long thrived on such slights — real or imagined. — Joseph Person, charlotteobserver, "Is a Panthers defensive line with 3 Pro Bowlers and Julius Peppers underappreciated?," 12 July 2018 The Eagles were not chippy about the slights or even all that arrogant. — Nancy Armour, USA TODAY, "Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles are no longer underdogs after Super Bowl LII win," 4 Feb. 2018 The biggest slight, however, comes at the end, just as Rhodes reaches the energy transition now under way. — David R. Baker, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘Energy: A Human History,’ by Richard Rhodes," 7 June 2018 Since then, about 1,000 more women work in the occupation, and now women comprise a slight of 51% majority of all workers in the field. — USA TODAY, "Women in the workforce: 20 jobs that have become dominated by women," 21 Mar. 2018 The only modification to the shell was a slight cut out in the front part of the rear wheel wells to accomdate the triangular treads. — Robert Duffer, chicagotribune.com, "Nissan rips up Chicago Auto Show with 370Z snowmobile," 7 Feb. 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.