as in insults
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
refused to respond to their petty slights
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in offends
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in
the dancers felt slighted by the harsh comments of the judges
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in isolates
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely
as a temp worker, she often feels slighted by the people she has to work with
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in disdains
to show contempt for
music critics who slight any style of music that doesn't fit their personal taste
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in ignores
to fail to give proper attention to
slighted several major authors in her survey of 20th-century fiction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 slights
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Michael Malone, during his Nuggets days, was a genius at creating enemies, of underlining slights that may or may not have ever been real.
—Arkansas Online, 15 Jan. 2026
Michael Malone, during his Nuggets days, was a genius at creating enemies, of underlining slights that may or may not have ever been real.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2026
And so, trading slights is not going to get you there.
—Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
On the female side of the acting ballots, competitors this season exercised no such constraint especially in challenging critical slights.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
Both siblings decline to cite specific examples of slights.
—Alice Park, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
As the plot gets moving, slights against Claire pile up quickly.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 9 Dec. 2025
Some feminists saw that as presumption, skipping the long price of admission—slights, salaries, stares.
—James Marcus, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
Ekulona’s Julie is assailed as much by Hedda’s slights as by her indifference.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Michael Malone, during his Nuggets days, was a genius at creating enemies, of underlining slights that may or may not have ever been real.
—Arkansas Online, 15 Jan. 2026
Michael Malone, during his Nuggets days, was a genius at creating enemies, of underlining slights that may or may not have ever been real.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2026
And so, trading slights is not going to get you there.
—Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2026
On the female side of the acting ballots, competitors this season exercised no such constraint especially in challenging critical slights.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
Both siblings decline to cite specific examples of slights.
—Alice Park, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
As the plot gets moving, slights against Claire pile up quickly.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 9 Dec. 2025
Some feminists saw that as presumption, skipping the long price of admission—slights, salaries, stares.
—James Marcus, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slights
Noun
-
Cops said Michael Santiago, 31, and Michael James, 33, confronted the Black woman and unleashed a slew of racist insults that were caught on camera and posted online.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The Takoma Park, Maryland, mayor’s order that people not clap during a public meeting led to insults and even a poll.—
Paul Schwartzman,
Washington Post,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If that language offends you — come on.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Jan. 2026
-
If one employee offends another, they are fired on the spot.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Meek’s best writing often isolates intimate moments with tenderness and relatability.—
Dean Van Nguyen,
Pitchfork,
27 Feb. 2026
-
This not only ensures sufficient power delivery, but also effectively isolates any electromagnetic interference to the analog signal from the digital architecture – all in the name of optimum listening.—
Stefan Ionescu
February 24,
New Atlas,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Krikorian said a more traditional law enforcement approach should trade street sweeps for a greater focus on worksite enforcement – something Homan has advocated for, but which Trump disdains.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
7 Feb. 2026
-
White supremacy, which is very much alive in the land — turn on the news — disdains every people of color.—
Robert Lloyd,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Many women face unique financial realities, such as career breaks, caregiving, and longer life expectancy, yet most financial advice ignores these factors, which can affect women in ways that differ from those of men, according to NerdWallet's personal finance expert Kimberly Palmer.—
Janay Reece,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The real ocean, of course, ignores those assumptions entirely.—
Marcos Magaña,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
First seen at a night-club table of menacing lowlifes, Ida, whose mother tongue is Brooklynese, suddenly switches to a heavy British accent and dispenses a torrent of highly literary sarcasms.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The thing that outrages, the thing that shocks, the thing that elicits the greatest response, and the greatest response of all of those emotional reactions is outrage, is fear, is shock, is anger.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Content that outrages, polarizes or triggers anxiety keeps us watching.—
Avital Pardo,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Needy Venus snubs Jupiter, activating your homey 4th house and your idealistic 9th house.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Notable snubs up front included Sam Bennett, Travis Konecny, Seth Jarvis, Connor Bedard, Wyatt Johnston and Mark Scheifele.—
Julian McKenzie,
New York Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slights.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slights. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
