SLIM Synonyms: 202 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'slim' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of slim are slender , slight , tenuous , and thin . While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness. // a slim volume of poetry // a slim chance

Q: When is it sensible to use 'slender' instead of 'slim'?

The words slender and slim are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion. // the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

Q: Where would 'slight' be a reasonable alternative to 'slim'?

In some situations, the words slight and slim are roughly equivalent. However, slight implies smallness as well as thinness. // a slight build

Q: When can 'tenuous' be used instead of 'slim'?

The words tenuous and slim can be used in similar contexts, but tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness. // a tenuous thread

Q: When is 'thin' a more appropriate choice than 'slim'?

While in some cases nearly identical to slim , 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

slim

adjective

ˈslim

Definition of slim

as in thin

being of less than usual width a slim volume of poetry

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in slender

having a noticeably small amount of body fat the pressure on ballet dancers to remain gracefully slim

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sparse

less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable slim pickings at the garage sale

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in small

small in degree a slim chance is still better than none

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective slim contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of slim are slender, slight, tenuous, and thin. While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness.

a slim volume of poetry

a slim chance

When is it sensible to use slender instead of slim?

The words slender and slim are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.

the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

Where would slight be a reasonable alternative to slim?

In some situations, the words slight and slim are roughly equivalent. However, slight implies smallness as well as thinness.

a slight build

When can tenuous be used instead of slim?

The words tenuous and slim can be used in similar contexts, but tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.

a tenuous thread

When is thin a more appropriate choice than slim?

While in some cases nearly identical to slim, 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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of slim How to style black skinny jeans While wide-leg pants aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, slim, skinny, and cigarette jeans have staged a huge comeback this year. — India Roby, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2026 The outcome of the Michigan Senate race could determine which party holds a majority in the Senate, where Republicans currently hold a slim majority. — Garrett Downs,dan Mangan, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026 Tao is slim, wears his dark hair boyishly grown out, and has a gentle and calm demeanor. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026 Cole’s scoop-and-score extinguished and effectively ended any slim hopes of a comeback. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slim

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slim

Adjective

Its thin-film cadmium-telluride technology doesn't rely on the silicon supply chain.

— Harvey Stober, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
In past years, people have repurposed the thin plastic from the signs to make school projects, as art canvases, and even model airplanes.

— Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of thin

Adjective

Even the two slender shoulder straps emerge from pointed leather tabs that recall the workmanship of a saddle.

— Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2026
Having grossed a gargantuan $522 million worldwide (on a slender sub-$1 million production budget), Obsession now stands as this year’s highest profile showcase for cinematic noggin smashing.

— Chris Lee, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of slender

Adjective

Camels, many belonging to Touareg nomads, grazed on sparse patches of vegetation.

— Heather Richardson, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Nov. 2026
Minutes will also be sparse for Jaye Nash, a junior guard from Jacksonville State who’ll make most of his impact as a practice player and in the locker room.

— Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of sparse

Adjective

The Sun’s gravity confines dense plasma, while terrestrial machines must create conditions for useful fusion within a much smaller space.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
Ear seeding is a needle-free acupuncture technique that uses small beads held to the ear with adhesive to stimulate specific pressure points.

— Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of small

Adjective

Those qualities are attractive, but concentrating exclusively on them directs many investors toward the same narrow set of service companies.

— Chris Russo, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2026
The winning architecture is a stack of narrow intelligences pointed at what each one is good at, coordinated through a harness that knows which one to use when.

— Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of narrow

Adjective

Since the beginning of the episode, Lee’s been tailed by McMann’s skinny accomplice — the guy Ginger shot in the neck at the end of the season premiere.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
His long tusks were pale white; the bottoms of his feet splayed out wide under his skinny legs, the better to stabilize on sand.

— Samantha Falewée, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of skinny

Adjective

Sport offers scarce assets, global audiences, emotionally committed communities and hundreds of billions of dollars of underlying enterprise value.

— Julian La Picque, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Locals worried that if the data center came to town, the resource, already so scarce and so precious, would vanish.

— Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of scarce

Adjective

The effect is something like an off-season approximation of a sidewalk, and, your winter climate permitting, sidewalk chalk (tons of it, for $18) is another good option.

— Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
The plot’s exposure damaged Democrat Mary Peltola, knocking her off-message, and now threatens her party’s chances of winning control of the Senate.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of off

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“Slim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slim. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of slim

adjective

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