slender

adjective

slen·​der ˈslen-dər 

1

a

: spare in frame or flesh

especially : gracefully slight

b

: small or narrow in circumference or width in proportion to length or height

2

: limited or inadequate in amount or scope : meager

people of slender means

slenderly adverb

slenderness noun

Synonyms

• fine
• hairline
• narrow
• needlelike
• paper-thin
• skinny
• slim
• slim-jim
• thin
• ultrathin

Choose the Right Synonym for slender

thin, slender, slim, slight, tenuous mean not thick, broad, abundant, or dense.

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

slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.

the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness.

a slim volume of poetry

a slim chance

slight implies smallness as well as thinness.

a slight build

tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.

a tenuous thread

Examples of slender in a Sentence

She has a slender figure.

a flower with a slender stem

an animal with a long, slender snout

Recent Examples on the Web

Police released a vague description of the assailant: A slender man in his 30s wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black cargo pants and a surgical mask. —Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024

House: Democrats only need to pick up four seats to flip the House, and whichever party gains control is likely to have a slender majority. —Dave Lawler, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

The contents seemed to be Asian in origin: intricate lacquered screens and bolts of cloth, thousands of slender rattan canes, and an extraordinary array of porcelain, all preserved in the darkness of the ocean. —Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

Its design, inspired by the world of motor racing, features a slim and slender silhouette that enhances speed and agility when driving. —Teresa Romero Martínez, Glamour, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sclendre, slendre, from Anglo-French esclendre

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

slender

adjective

slen·​der ˈslen-dər 

1

: thin entry 1 sense 1, slim

2

: limited or not enough in amount : meager

a slender income

slenderly adverb

slenderness noun