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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective slender contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of slender are slight, slim, tenuous, and thin. While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.

the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

When is slight a more appropriate choice than slender?

The words slight and slender are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slight implies smallness as well as thinness.

a slight build

When would slim be a good substitute for slender?

The words slim and slender can be used in similar contexts, but slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness.

a slim volume of poetry
a slim chance

In what contexts can tenuous take the place of slender?

Although the words tenuous and slender have much in common, tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.

a tenuous thread

When might thin be a better fit than slender?

While the synonyms thin and slender are close in meaning, 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 slender But Cummings prefers to mail the slender tubes back to Crown Bees, which will care for them over the winter. Martha Ann Overland, NPR, 6 Apr. 2025 The tower’s slender triangles look diaphanous from a distance, but from the sidewalk the building resembles a fortress, with a 186-foot concrete-and-steel base safeguarding the 94 stories above from bombings. David W. Dunlap, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 On top of the El Dorado’s twin towers, nearly 400 feet in the air, were two men balancing on the slender ziggurat peaks. Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 21 Mar. 2025 With their lanky legs and slender necks, sandhill cranes stand roughly three to four feet tall. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slender
Adjective
  • The weakness of the Flash 22 is the shoulder straps, which are quite thin.
    Scott Gilbertson, Wired News, 1 May 2025
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Here are the shoes to wear with skinny jeans to look chic in Spring 2025.
    Renata Joffre, Glamour, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Advance Denim is expanding its stretch technologies to support the resurgence of skinny jeans in the market.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • McKinstry was hitting below .200, playing time was sparse and the Tigers were bringing up young players from the minors.
    Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
  • In the nutrient-poor soils of subalpine elevations, where rainfall is often sparse, this species thrives by conserving energy.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The package of tax reductions and sweeping spending cuts faces headwinds from opposition Democrats and some Republicans worried about the federal deficit, and the GOP's narrow House majority leaves no room for error.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • Spotlights provide a narrower beam of light that is better for seeing long distances.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Lift your hips off the ground and place a block underneath your sacrum, the widest, boniest part of your pelvis.
    Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 16 Oct. 2024
  • Differences in Adult Bones That being said, some adults are bonier than others.
    Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023
Adjective
  • The area normally can expect 38.4 inches, according to the National Weather Service. Chicago was warmer than average during the 2023-24 season, which meant snow was scarce.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2025
  • This gap is particularly pronounced in countries without a long-standing tradition of immigration, such as Austria and Germany, where clinical studies on menopause among migrant populations remain scarce.
    Ximena Araya-Fischel, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • With between-the-tackles runner Ray Davis on the roster for the next three seasons, a pass-catching presence would be the likely lean if the Bills do take one.
    Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025
  • At the current sales pace, that is equivalent to a 4-month supply, which is still on the lean side.
    Diana Olick, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Which is why, day after day, the deeply faithful and the merely curious alike assemble before St. Peter's to stare at that slim chimney.
    Marco della Cava, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • As is common for ultraportables, the port selection is slim but capable.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slender. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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