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
But it will be set in modern times, but with a slight fantasy twist. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026 That’s a slight improvement for Minogue since his 27% score in February, with Healey dropping from 56% in that month. —Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
Coach Cori Close seemed unconcerned with the slight. —Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026 Basketball Hall of Famer Reggie Miller was highly criticized for comparing Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark's game to Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, with fans taking it as a slight toward Clark. —Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
The right felt slighted, again, this time as the victim of a great left-wing conspiracy to turn football’s biggest night against them. —Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026 Did Probst feel slighted by all the backlash? —David Canfield, Vanity Fair, 20 Jan. 2026 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
  • Based on the popular 1960s spy sitcom, this weak adaptation casts Steve Carell as a bumbling secret agent, with Hathaway as his more competent partner and developing love interest.
    — Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
  • In particular, researchers experimentally demonstrated quadsqueezing, a complex fourth-order quantum interaction previously considered too weak to observe.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 May 2026
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • Snitker managed numerous minor-league clubs over the years, including Richmond, Mississippi, Durham and Macon.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Any minor spills or leaks within this storage area are expected to be contained within the basement level.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of minor
Adjective
  • Generally, the Hilton hotel, where the dinner has taken place for years, remains open to regular guests during the correspondents’ dinner, and security has typically been focused on the ballroom and rather than the hotel at large, with little screening for people not entering the dinner itself.
    — Collin Binkley, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Security has typically been focused on the ballroom — rather than the hotel at large — with little screening for people not entering the dinner itself.
    — Bridget Byrne, Baltimore Sun, 26 Apr. 2026
Definition of little
Adjective
  • And, in the end, none of the aforementioned might be available except for Ja Morant, who might be only a nominal upgrade, if that.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Companies provide most of the capital; Pegasus contributes a nominal share for compliance reasons and manages the investments.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of nominal
Adjective
  • Its gibbous disk appears small and featureless.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 2 May 2026
  • Trump has signed executive orders to reduce housing regulatory burdens and help smaller banks provide mortgages.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 May 2026
Definition of small
Noun
  • The president has spent a decade calling his rivals communists and traitors, among other hyperbolic insults.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
  • According to Politico, the conversation was nothing but a tirade of insults.
    — Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of insult
Verb
  • Baselitz was charged with offending public morality; the case dragged on for two years before being dismissed, but his reputation was cemented.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 1 May 2026
  • The image of an officer peering into the empty driver’s seat of the offending vehicle may have been good for a chuckle, but other incidents have been no laughing matter.
    — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Definition of offend
Verb
  • These isotopes have half-lives lasting hundreds of thousands of years, which determines the conditions for isolating radioactive waste from the environment.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 1 May 2026
  • Hosted by political commentator and comedian Greg Gutfeld, the game show is made up of five contestants who are isolated for three months, the company said in the press release.
    — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 1 May 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 3 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on slight

Nglish: Translation of slight for Spanish Speakers

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