slight 1 of 3

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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
According to the site, reports peaked at over 2,800 at around noon ET on Friday, with a slight decrease in reports an hour later. Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 16 May 2025 There are some slight design differences between them (the 16S has a rear thermal block that's missing on the V 16S), and the 16S tops out at an RTX 5070 Ti while the V 16S only goes up to an RTX 5070. Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 16 May 2025
Noun
For some, this seems like a slight to UConn, who recently won the Big East tournament title for the 12th year in a row to complement their regular season title. Allison Smith, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025 To some, this will seem like a slight to Green, and to others, a slight to Barnes. Eric Koreen, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
Known for unmercifully calling out machismo through her music, Paquita became a guiding light for many women who have been wronged or slighted by their partners, or a patriarchal world. Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025 Each man feels insulted and slighted by the other; both have cause for resentment. Rachel Hadas, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slight
Adjective
  • The report also included a number of ‘weak’ odor sources observed during the study, including odors emanating from the Curaleaf cannabis facility on Britt Road and Goldflower Cannabis facility on Niles Road.
    James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 May 2025
  • Thompson’s brother Maurice, who allegedly drove the chasing Chevrolet Equinox, was granted bail in October — indicating a potentially weak case.
    Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
Adjective
  • In some cases, lawyers said students had their legal statuses altered for minor traffic violations, such as unpaid parking tickets.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • Nina and Jim are forced to work overtime to re-center key story components that get lost amid more minor twists and turns.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Fortunately, the fan who was hit showed little to none sign that anything unusual had happened.
    Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 May 2025
  • And while most Americans have heard about the stock market fluctuations, 20 percent have heard little about them or nothing at all.
    Ruth Igielnik, New York Times, 18 May 2025
Adjective
  • Chris Lombardi, founder of Matador Records, recalls first pitching Perry’s idea to Stephen Malkmus, the band’s notoriously laconic chief songwriter, singer, guitarist and nominal leader.
    Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025
  • What’s more, most state parks have no admission fee while a few charge a nominal fee of a few dollars.
    Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 4 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Court of International Trade previously rejected the small businesses' request to temporarily pause the tariffs while their lawsuit went forward, but then quickly scheduled Tuesday’s court hearing to decide whether to rule against the tariffs or impose a longer-term pause.
    Dietrich Knauth, USA Today, 14 May 2025
  • Instead, Atkinson took up golf for the first time and renewed his connection to scientific research, not the least of which was how a small white ball repeatedly avoids a hole in the ground.
    Barbara Bry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • Sarandos, playing a cheeky version of himself, delivers a sharp line about contractual award show shout-outs before signing off with an insult.
    Clayton Davis, Variety, 7 May 2025
  • People hurled insults as the police started taking down the barricades.
    Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 7 May 2025
Verb
  • Kaplan, the keeper of the NFLPA arbitration process, was clearly offended by France’s conduct.
    Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
  • The offending employees were moved to different cottages.
    Jeff Mcdonald, Mercury News, 12 May 2025
Verb
  • He is isolated in Sweden — far away from coaching candidates, far away from Penguins assistant GM Jason Spezza — left to find his next coach on a schedule six hours ahead of Eastern Time.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 19 May 2025
  • Extreme anxiety and extreme depression is isolating.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slight. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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