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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 The top-floor primary suite faces the water with a fireplace, a sitting area that spills onto a slender balcony, and a spectacular bathroom that turns bathing and grooming into a ceremony. Mark David, Robb Report, 4 Sep. 2025 For a modern or narrow doorway, tall, slender plants elongate the entry. Lauren Jones, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2025 Both hummingbirds and orioles have long, slender beaks, but slightly different dietary preferences. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025 Natural light pours in from both sides of the slender, serpentine structure. Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slender
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slender
Adjective
  • Leaders who pay attention to these lessons now will be best prepared to thrive in a world where the boundaries between Earth and orbit are becoming ever thinner.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 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.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Struggling to put on a pair of tight skinny jeans has become a thing of the past.
    Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2025
  • On a first-and-10 from the UC 34-yard line, Arnold took a shotgun snap and hit receiver Sean Lander on a skinny post for a 34-yard touchdown.
    Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Model Drift and Fraud Patterns Require Human Feedback In fraud detection, patterns evolve quickly and data remains sparse.
    Christer Holloman, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The floors will be reclaimed plastic and concrete, and the equipment in the hospital will be sparse, as there are no monitors available, Hawash-Kuemmerle said.
    Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Students have a narrow window to unlock access to training that could dramatically shape their post-grad trajectory.
    Cheryl Robinson, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • For decades, OPOs have been bulky systems with narrow ranges.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 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 position of elementary education among the least susceptible to poverty might be surprising, but elementary school teachers are scarce and in demand.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The number of investigations is scarce not because of a lack of potential violations.
    Max Blau, ProPublica, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • All of a sudden, the GTD takes on an entirely different, immediately noticeable character, low and lean and ready to carve through canyons with the best supercars.
    Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Designed to have a slightly more brutalist lean than the chair’s colonial origins, this option is for the maximalist at heart.
    Elissa Suh, Architectural Digest, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The Lancers turned a slim halftime lead into a convincing 35-14 win over Serra on Friday in a nonleague football game at Orange Coast College, Orange Lutheran’s home field.
    Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Bluetti also unveiled some other new products at IFA, including its FridgePower Portable Power Station, a 2,016 Wh, 1,800 W, slim design for appliances.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slender. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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