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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 Trump’s decision to open a two-week negotiating window before deciding on striking Iran has offered a slim – if improbable – path to a peace deal between Iran and Israel. Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 20 June 2025 The body, jointly made up of government ministries and civil society organizations, approved the resolution by a slim majority in December. Eléonore Hughes, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2025 Even the modern devices, with all of their polish, are still two—admittedly slim—phones stacked together. Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025 Cinema admissions across Europe fell in 2024 despite a slim increase in box office numbers, according to a new report by Europe’s International Union of Cinemas (UNIC). Zac Ntim, Deadline, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for slim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slim
Adjective
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 June 2025
  • When done correctly, gen AI allows agents to focus on complex, high-value conversations, while also training and guiding AI to reflect the company’s voice, tone and brand values, instead of being stretched thin across repetitive tasks.
    Priya Vijayarajendran, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Nolan Traoré, France An intriguing but very slender point guard, the 6-3 teenager should be a first-rounder.
    Tim Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
  • Lively became mostly famous for, well, being Blake Lively: tall, slender, beautiful, and suspiciously perfect — a patron saint for the Instagram age.
    David Mack, Rolling Stone, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • On one side stood a sparse gathering of supporters, including students and faculty.
    Avi D. Gordon, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2025
  • After missing the cut at the US Open, Phil Mickelson walked off the 18th green at Oakmont with a quiet nod to the sparse crowd, a soft wave, and a lingering glance at the leaderboard.
    Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • The veteran would be a small upgrade in the outfield for the Padres.
    Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
  • Deerhoof is a small mom and pop operation, and know when enough is enough.
    Walden Green, Pitchfork, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Nothing dramatizes the human comedy with more precision than the sound of a happily narrow mind retorting to the wider environment.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
  • In more challenging games, however, the side often flatters to deceive and occasionally slips up, as a narrow 2-1 victory over Boca Juniors and 0-1 loss to Benfica showed.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Jamie has a big head, like a baby, and skinny limbs; his flashes of menace have the horror-movie quality of an evil doll.
    Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
  • As a departure from the era of plain skinny ties, Lauren's wide, colorful neckties broke the mold, and his company grew from there.
    Diane J. Cho, People.com, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • High-Potential, Untapped Markets I’m inspired by what others ignore—those quiet gaps where attention is scarce but potential is high, like a niche market with growing demand but little innovation.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
  • Aside from mining for lunar water, these efforts might involve the extraction of an isotope called helium-3, which is scarce on Earth but is in relatively large abundance on the moon.
    Julian Dossett, Space.com, 12 June 2025
Adjective
  • Entering play Thursday, an off day for the Yankees, the reigning American League MVP had the highest average (.361), OPS (1.180), fWAR (6.1) and wRC+ (221) in baseball.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 June 2025
  • His hope is two off days — Wednesday’s game and the team’s off-day on Thursday — will put him in position to return to the lineup on Friday in Cincinnati.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slim. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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