SLIM Synonyms: 202 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'slim' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of slim are slender , slight , tenuous , and thin . While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness. // a slim volume of poetry // a slim chance

Q: When is it sensible to use 'slender' instead of 'slim'?

The words slender and slim are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion. // the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

Q: Where would 'slight' be a reasonable alternative to 'slim'?

In some situations, the words slight and slim are roughly equivalent. However, slight implies smallness as well as thinness. // a slight build

Q: When can 'tenuous' be used instead of 'slim'?

The words tenuous and slim can be used in similar contexts, but tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness. // a tenuous thread

Q: When is 'thin' a more appropriate choice than 'slim'?

While in some cases nearly identical to slim , 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

slim

adjective

ˈslim

Definition of slim

as in thin

being of less than usual width a slim volume of poetry

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in slender

having a noticeably small amount of body fat the pressure on ballet dancers to remain gracefully slim

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sparse

less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable slim pickings at the garage sale

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in small

small in degree a slim chance is still better than none

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective slim contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of slim are slender, slight, tenuous, and thin. While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness.

a slim volume of poetry

a slim chance

When is it sensible to use slender instead of slim?

The words slender and slim are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.

the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

Where would slight be a reasonable alternative to slim?

In some situations, the words slight and slim are roughly equivalent. However, slight implies smallness as well as thinness.

a slight build

When can tenuous be used instead of slim?

The words tenuous and slim can be used in similar contexts, but tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.

a tenuous thread

When is thin a more appropriate choice than slim?

While in some cases nearly identical to slim, 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 slim On two days, July 30 and August 20, Coca-Cola topped Alphabet by slim margins at the close. — Alex Crippen, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026 At a slim 97 minutes, the film’s script (also by Lucas and Moore) doesn’t have much room for those bigger backstories or to fill any yawning gaps. — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026 Alternative options for Verstappen looking into next year looked slim given the deals in place for the drivers at the other front-running teams. — Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 The 20-ounce size hits the nice sweet spot for everyday use and the slim shape feels much more streamlined than some of Stanley’s chunkier bottles. — Francesca Krempa, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slim

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slim

Adjective

With a steely disposition, Dikha is seen in the videos standing at the very front of a thin boat, executing a repetitive series of dance moves as a line of rowers propel them through a river.

— Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
The mountain of seafood comes with a little sidecar of very thin, very crispy potato chips, seemingly for the hell of it, and a bottle of tart, fiery homemade hot sauce.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of thin

Adjective

Built in 1884 to serve the area’s booming silver mines, the narrow-gauge railroad climbs nearly 600 feet in just two miles, crossing the famous Devil’s Gate High Bridge before reaching the historic mining town of Silver Plume.

— Jocelyn Rowley, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026
Those gains in a high-turnout presidential year, combined with the very narrow final margin — after a recount — made the decision simple for Bohannan to sign up a third time.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of narrow

Adjective

Elordi himself opted to wear Bottega Veneta, sporting a navy, softly pinstriped double-breasted suit with sharp lapels and coordinating tailored pants, a white shirt, and navy skinny tie.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2026
Love is blind, love is on the spectrum, love is… suddenly skinny?

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of skinny

Adjective

When bulbs start growing and blooming in spring or summer, water them only when the soil feels dry to the touch and rainfall is scarce.

— Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 23 Aug. 2026
Instead of solely selling hardware and software, Nvidia is leveraging its strong financial position to create a financing ecosystem, enabling customers to access scarce compute at scale.

— Sanjit Singh Dang, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of scarce

Adjective

The strangeness rests on the antique, out-of-time nature of the set dressing, but also in the slightly off color combinations Arnold and his team chose, and in the sense of things being hand-made, injecting the sense of A Presence into the space.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026
There have been stretches of the season where scoring enough runs has felt impossible if Bryce Harper or Kyle Schwarber has an off day.

— Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of off

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“Slim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slim. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of slim

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