slim

1 of 2

adjective

ˈslim 

slimmer; slimmest

1

: of small diameter or thickness in proportion to the height or length : slender

2

a

: mean, worthless

b

: adroit, crafty

3

a

: inferior in quality or amount : slight

b

: scanty, small

a slim chance

slimly adverb

slimness noun

slim

2 of 2

verb

slimmed; slimming

transitive verb

: to make slender : decrease the size of

intransitive verb

: to become slender

Synonyms

Adjective

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

Choose the Right Synonym for slim

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 slim in a Sentence

Adjective

She looked slim and fit for her age.

He has a slim build.

I was a lot slimmer in those days.

They have only a slim chance of winning.

Verb

She started exercising to slim her thighs.

I'll skip dessert; I'm slimming.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The number of outlets that invest in both their writers and their audience is slim and thinning. —Chris Weatherspoon, The Athletic, 18 Mar. 2025

Yet no one at those places remembers him -- except for a single slim lead. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2025

Verb

The Tate museum network will dramatically slim its workforce as institutions and galleries worldwide seek to reduce costs amid forecasts of a far-reaching financial recession. —Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 14 Mar. 2025

If confirmed, McMahon's first order of business will probably be to slim the department down further, NPR's Jonaki Mehta tells Up First. —Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 13 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Dutch, bad, inferior, from Middle Dutch slimp crooked, bad; akin to Middle High German slimp awry

First Known Use

Adjective

1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1862, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing slim

• slim chance
• slim down
• slim-jim
• slim pickings
• slim to none

Rhymes for slim

• brim
• clim
• dim
• grim
• gym
• him
• hymn
• im
• limb
• mim
• prim
• rim

Kids Definition

slim

1 of 2 adjective

ˈslim 

slimmer; slimmest

1

: of small diameter or thickness in comparison with the height or length

2

a

: low in quality or quantity : slight

b

: scanty, small

has a slim chance of winning

slimly adverb

slimness noun

slim

2 of 2 verb

slimmed; slimming

: to make or become slender