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

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
After a slight chance of rain early Wednesday, Kansas City will see warmer-than-usual weather. — Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2026 Barrington Drive features a few slight curves before straightening out in the area where a car struck Espinoza. — Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2026
Noun
These slights and oversights have continued for decades, until now. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026 Smith, who has frequently responded to criticism from OutKick, may view that comparison as a slight. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
Luckily for Rhaena, Lady Jeyne is a pragmatist — and one who feels slighted by Rhaenyra. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026 Militia commanders were already feeling slighted by their British overlords, and London’s stranglehold on trade and manufacturing caused still more resentment. — Ann Manov, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 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
  • Trump was implying Ukraine was in a weak negotiating position and did not have the military resources to fight against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
    — Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 2 Nov. 2026
  • And some players are turning on the season as seen by them letting the Jaguars tear through weak tackle attempts to the tune of 183 rushing yards and three passing TDs by Trevor Lawrence.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • There were other, more minor, signs that suggested the Republican senator might be in trouble.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026
  • In the case of a minor stroke, which is often referred to as a transient ischemic attack or a warning stroke, the person doesn’t suffer lasting effects.
    — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of minor
Adjective
  • Here's where the high diesel prices add up tough – what little hay there is, is a lot more expensive to harvest.
    — Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The prince didn’t have any luck in blocking Kelce, which comes as little surprise given the Chiefs star knows how to avoid defensive players.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of little
Adjective
  • The latest cells can retain around 90 percent of their nominal capacity at temperatures as low as -40°C (-40°F), outperforming conventional lithium-ion chemistries, particularly LFP.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Recordings averaged six hours and 38 minutes, roughly half a battery’s nominal life, the report said.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of nominal
Adjective
  • The Sun’s gravity confines dense plasma, while terrestrial machines must create conditions for useful fusion within a much smaller space.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Ear seeding is a needle-free acupuncture technique that uses small beads held to the ear with adhesive to stimulate specific pressure points.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of small
Noun
  • Despite his notoriously fiery TV persona, the Gordon Ramsay meal kit doesn’t include any pre-packaged insults or threats to shut your kitchen down — just easy-to-follow recipe cards.
    — Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Gillies was surprised to learn in researching the docu that the programmers came up with a rating system for calculating the relative weight of insults.
    — Will Tizard, Variety, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of insult
Verb
  • The club initially argued that Mbappe had no intent to offend while also explaining that players have freedom of expression, which predictably did not go over well.
    — Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Gonzalez acknowledged that the messages could offend people who did not share the group’s sense of humor.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of offend
Verb
  • Lip liner ranked among the strongest prestige makeup segments, though those numbers don’t isolate demand for concealer lips or anti-blush specifically.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The investigation is ongoing, but preliminarily, investigators believe the shooting was isolated and there’s no ongoing threat to the public, Kellogg said.
    — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 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 5 Nov. 2026.

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