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Definition of slightnext
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slight

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noun

slight

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective slight contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of slight are slender, slim, tenuous, and thin. While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," slight implies smallness as well as thinness.

a slight build

When is slender a more appropriate choice than slight?

While in some cases nearly identical to slight, slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.

the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

When would slim be a good substitute for slight?

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

a slim volume of poetry
a slim chance

When might tenuous be a better fit than slight?

The synonyms tenuous and slight are sometimes interchangeable, but tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.

a tenuous thread

When is it sensible to use thin instead of slight?

The meanings of thin and slight largely overlap; however, 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 slight
Adjective
Katz recommends beginning with slight declines. Alisa Hrustic, Health, 19 June 2026 That marked a slight increase from the 67,966 fans who saw Qatar tie Switzerland over the weekend with an extra time goal to give Qatar its first point in World Cup history. Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026
Noun
Psychologists have long been interested in why some slights refuse to fade, and how those lingering injuries can settle in — reshaping a person’s thoughts, mood and sense of self over time. The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2026 Rather than a slight to Lane, Lithgow’s win is a sign of the dramatic depth that characterized this otherwise squirrely season. Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026
Verb
Deborah also slighted Kelly’s talk show. Erin Jensen, USA Today, 8 May 2026 As Cretton and Guest looked on and occasionally interjected, Abdul-Mateen described a tough first Zoom meeting that left him feeling slighted. Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slight
Adjective
  • Depressed wages, a weak currency and hyperinflation have continued to make life difficult for ordinary Venezuelans, many of whom struggle to afford basic goods.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • There, the Sox scored on a weak, off-line throw from shallow left fielder José Caballero.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • The driver of the pickup suffered minor injuries and declined the offer to be transported to a nearby hospital.
    CBS Baltimore Staff, CBS News, 21 June 2026
  • After signing a minor-league deal earlier in the month, outfielder Jarred Kelenic was entered into the Texas Rangers’ starting lineup in the 6-4 extra-innings loss to the San Diego Padres on Saturday at Globe Life Field.
    Cal Phillips, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 June 2026
Adjective
  • There, officers found the little girl with severe, life-threatening injuries.
    Kaicey Baylor, CBS News, 21 June 2026
  • Contrary to popular belief, the central bank has little influence over home loan rates.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 21 June 2026
Adjective
  • The Tyumen refinery, one of the country's most modern and complex, has a nominal capacity of around 8 million metric tons per year.
    Ron Popeski, USA Today, 20 June 2026
  • Self-park options are available for overnight guests for a nominal fee, and the hotel is dog-friendly (no additional fee).
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • Name the worry out loud, then choose a small boundary that protects your energy, such as turning off notifications during a demanding task.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 June 2026
  • People milled about clutching small rainbow flags from the human rights organization Outright International.
    Hallie Golden, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • In recent weeks, Avila Chevalier has been under a microscope for her past tweets, including posts calling for defunding the police and abolishing the border, alongside harsh insults of big-name Democrats such as former Vice President Kamala Harris.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • Michael Lind, the writer and New America co-founder, argues in Commonplace, the magazine of Oren Cass’s American Compass, that a decent wage and a safety net should be enough, and that handing workers a stake in capital insults the dignity of their labor.
    Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Feeling offended by opinions that differ from yours?
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 26 June 2026
  • Evans, a 6-foot-6 guard from Duke, said he wasn’t offended by prognostications that place him late in the first round.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Now, in Crimea, Kyiv is systematically targeting key transport links and supply routes connecting the peninsula to southern Russian forces, aiming to disrupt logistics and isolate military infrastructure there.
    Zahra Ullah, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • Her direction here wisely emphasizes the actors, and possibly overdoes it with the mirrors — lotta symbolically reflective surfaces and isolating frames within frames — but there’s never the sensation that the person behind the camera is winging it.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Slight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slight. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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