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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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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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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1
as in smallness
the quality or state of being little in size
the old photograph shows a man whose slightness of build seems at variance with his reputation as a robust outdoorsman
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2
as in lightness
the state or quality of having little weight
his slightness will serve him well if he ever decides to become a jockey
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3
as in negligibility
the quality or state of being unimportant
most moviegoers were not in the least bothered by the slightness of the plot—they were there for the special effects in any event
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slight
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2025
Anna Chen, a slight 50-year-old woman holding an empty green shopping basket, told me that tariffs were on her mind.
—Karen Yuan, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2025
Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2025
Administration officials have taken on the role of enforcers of Trump’s enmity, retaliating against states, educational institutions, and private companies alike for real or perceived slights to the president and his agenda.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 28 Mar. 2025
Abigail Adams, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025
President Bill Clinton, the only other Southerner elected to the White House since the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, regularly shunned and slighted Mr. Carter, who arguably paved the way for him.
—Richard Fausset, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for slight
Adjective
Not when your opponent is spending its each and every waking moment scouring film for even the slightest advantage.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2025
Anna Chen, a slight 50-year-old woman holding an empty green shopping basket, told me that tariffs were on her mind.
—Karen Yuan, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
Every slight on social media, every article that didn’t mention the Gaels as one of the Bay Area’s top teams and every low preseason ranking was filed away to be used at a later date.
—Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 8 Feb. 2025
Administration officials have taken on the role of enforcers of Trump’s enmity, retaliating against states, educational institutions, and private companies alike for real or perceived slights to the president and his agenda.
—Samantha Riedel, Them., 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
Vanja felt slighted by Josko’s misrepresentation of their relationship and decided to expose his misdeed.
—Abigail Adams, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025
President Bill Clinton, the only other Southerner elected to the White House since the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, regularly shunned and slighted Mr. Carter, who arguably paved the way for him.
—Richard Fausset, New York Times, 30 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for slight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slight
Adjective
-
Weak Treasury Demand Moved Rates More recently, in the wake of the administration’s chaotic trade policy rollout, Treasury security auctions did not go as expected, with weak demand pushing rates up higher than everyone expected.—
Norbert Michel,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Iran was at its weakest point since the 1980s, maybe since the Iranian revolution in 1979.—
Quinn Scanlan,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
As mentioned above, taking creatine in higher doses, such as 20 grams per day, may trigger minor side effects like water retention.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Commonly known as Tylenol, it's thought to reduce fever and relieve minor aches and pains by raising your body's pain threshold and regulating your body temperature.—
Andee Tagle,
NPR,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Obstetricians say, at the end of the day, AFE is really just a product of bad luck, and there's little that can be done to prevent it.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
That the probe fizzled out came as little surprise.—
Jeremy Kohler,
ProPublica,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
As the Signal chats showed, there are differences of opinion within Trump’s national-security team, and much more serious friction with the administration’s nominal allies in Europe.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2025
-
The new duties raise the nominal U.S. tariff rate on China to 54%.—
Alain Sherter,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Although set in the small city, the movie was reportedly filmed in several locations in Louisiana.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
-
The city will loan the small Columbus statue removed from Arrigo Park in July 2020 to the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, which is developing a museum honoring Italian immigrants in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood, according to a Park District news release.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
Have you guys been insulting each other publicly for decades?—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Richie's wife verbally attacks Maeve, even stooping so low as to look her up and down and insult her appearance.—
Matt Cabral,
EW.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Traumatic or abusive situations often distance or isolate people.—
David Oliver,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Furthermore, the current political and market volatility can become distracting, or even isolating.—
Theodore McDarrah,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The Minervois is a sunny land of black truffles, red marble, oak and juniper forests and castles constructed by Cathars (pescatarian Christians who disdained the symbol of the cross, were branded as heretics and subsequently slaughtered wholesale by Papal decree in the 13th century).—
Tom Mullen,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
-
The Republicans who disdained him and tried to terminate his leadership have made his point by leaving the party and becoming Democrats (or at least voting for Democrats).—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slight. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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