slight 1 of 3

adjective

ˈslīt How to pronounce slight (audio)
Definition of slightnext
1
as in weak
lacking bodily strength a small lad with a slight build

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2
as in minor
lacking importance a slight comedy that did nothing to further her career

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3
as in little
of a size that is less than average the slight youth packed a surprisingly solid punch

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4
as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention apart from a slight fishy taste, the dish was fine

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5
as in small
small in degree only a slight chance of success

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slight

2 of 3

noun

as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings refused to respond to their petty slights

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slight

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to insult
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in the dancers felt slighted by the harsh comments of the judges

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2
as in to isolate
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely as a temp worker, she often feels slighted by the people she has to work with

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3
as in to disdain
to show contempt for music critics who slight any style of music that doesn't fit their personal taste

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4
as in to ignore
to fail to give proper attention to slighted several major authors in her survey of 20th-century fiction

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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

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

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
All areas in the Los Angeles region will experience a slight cooling on Saturday, with the coast and valleys seeing a possible 5- to 10-degree drop. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026 However, the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge showed slight improvement in January, according to the same report. —Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
Noun
Even if a frustrating change of plans isn’t really anyone’s fault, you might be tempted to take it as a personal slight. —Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026 Anticipation is once again high for the Superblast 3, and Asics‘ latest round of upgrades is going well beyond slight. —Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
But try to understand why your mom's feeling slighted. —Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025 Paramount feels slighted and discriminated against in the sale process. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 8 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slight
  1. weak
  2. minor
  3. little
  4. nominal
  5. small
  6. insult
  7. offend
  8. isolate
Adjective
  • The United States is, to her knowledge, the only country maintaining such a ban for nearly a century via Section 307 of the 1930 Tariff Act—even in its weaker form with the domestic consumption loophole.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Lessons from gold and small-caps The recent spike in oil prices has not resulted in spectacular gains for gold investors fueled by a weaker dollar, as was the case in 1973.
    — Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • The woman had minor injuries and was treated at the scene, police said.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Leigh Wambsganss, the Republican candidate and a Mercy Culture ally, had become a minor MAGA celebrity, owing to her role in facilitating a far-right takeover of the area’s school boards.
    — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
Definition of minor
Adjective
  • The Boston bats made little noise all night in North Port.
    — Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
  • But even this caricature is more than what’s afforded to Zoe (Iris Apatow) and her Deaf sister Chloe (Millicent Simmonds), whose collective function is the former interpreting for the latter in American Sign Language, but little else.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of little
Adjective
  • The bar provides seasonings, baked potatoes, and salad for a nominal fee.
    — Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026
  • That’s two of the largest single day increases going back to 2005 in terms of nominal increase in cents per gallon, according to GasBuddy.
    — Robert Ferris, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
Definition of nominal
Adjective
  • Modern warfare has shown that traditional radar systems often struggle to identify and monitor many small drones flying together.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Adjust a subscription or renegotiate a small fee, then record the change, because tracking progress reinforces confidence and protects your careful planning.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 14 Mar. 2026
Definition of small
Noun
  • Using obscene or abusive language Any use of profanity, insults or abusive language is prohibited under the FDCPA.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026
  • Please don't waste my time filling up the mailbox with big shiny cards that scream doomsday insults about your opponents.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026
Definition of insult
Verb
  • Paramount+ is being very protective of the series’ plot, though before anything really happens, the offending binary is established.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Some critics fretted that this fairly radical augmentation of the original classic would offend viewers.
    — Holly Willis, The Conversation, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of offend
Verb
  • There are all kinds of ways they were not isolated.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Radcliffe described the early stages as isolating.
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 13 Mar. 2026
Definition of isolate

Browse Nearby Words

sliding
slight
slighted
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Cite this Entry

“Slight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slight. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on slight

Nglish: Translation of slight for Spanish Speakers

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