slight 1 of 3

adjective

ˈslīt How to pronounce slight (audio)
Definition of slightnext
1
as in weak
lacking bodily strength a small lad with a slight build

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2
as in minor
lacking importance a slight comedy that did nothing to further her career

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3
as in little
of a size that is less than average the slight youth packed a surprisingly solid punch

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4
as in nominal
so small or unimportant as to warrant little or no attention apart from a slight fishy taste, the dish was fine

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5
as in small
small in degree only a slight chance of success

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slight

2 of 3

noun

as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings refused to respond to their petty slights

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slight

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to insult
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in the dancers felt slighted by the harsh comments of the judges

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2
as in to isolate
to deliberately ignore or treat rudely as a temp worker, she often feels slighted by the people she has to work with

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3
as in to disdain
to show contempt for music critics who slight any style of music that doesn't fit their personal taste

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4
as in to ignore
to fail to give proper attention to slighted several major authors in her survey of 20th-century fiction

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective slight contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of slight are slender, slim, tenuous, and thin. While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," slight implies smallness as well as thinness.

a slight build

When is slender a more appropriate choice than slight?

While in some cases nearly identical to slight, slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.

the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

When would slim be a good substitute for slight?

The words slim and slight can be used in similar contexts, but slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness.

a slim volume of poetry
a slim chance

When might tenuous be a better fit than slight?

The synonyms tenuous and slight are sometimes interchangeable, but tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.

a tenuous thread

When is it sensible to use thin instead of slight?

The meanings of thin and slight largely overlap; however, 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

How does the adjective slight contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of slight are slender, slim, tenuous, and thin. While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," slight implies smallness as well as thinness.

a slight build

When is slender a more appropriate choice than slight?

While in some cases nearly identical to slight, slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.

the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

When would slim be a good substitute for slight?

The words slim and slight can be used in similar contexts, but slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness.

a slim volume of poetry
a slim chance

When might tenuous be a better fit than slight?

The synonyms tenuous and slight are sometimes interchangeable, but tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.

a tenuous thread

When is it sensible to use thin instead of slight?

The meanings of thin and slight largely overlap; however, 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

How does the adjective slight contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of slight are slender, slim, tenuous, and thin. While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," slight implies smallness as well as thinness.

a slight build

When is slender a more appropriate choice than slight?

While in some cases nearly identical to slight, slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.

the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

When would slim be a good substitute for slight?

The words slim and slight can be used in similar contexts, but slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness.

a slim volume of poetry
a slim chance

When might tenuous be a better fit than slight?

The synonyms tenuous and slight are sometimes interchangeable, but tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.

a tenuous thread

When is it sensible to use thin instead of slight?

The meanings of thin and slight largely overlap; however, 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 slight
Adjective
Yet, when researchers mentioned Musk’s name explicitly, the percentage of residents opposed to the project jumped to 51%—a slight majority. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026 But by March 2018, the tides had clearly shifted; although Republican midterm primary voters only saw slight decreases from 2014, Democrats surged from just 10,500 votes in the 2014 governor primary to nearly 60,000, a rise that was seen down ballot as well. —Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
Even if a frustrating change of plans isn’t really anyone’s fault, you might be tempted to take it as a personal slight. —Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026 Anticipation is once again high for the Superblast 3, and Asics‘ latest round of upgrades is going well beyond slight. —Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
But try to understand why your mom's feeling slighted. —Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025 Paramount feels slighted and discriminated against in the sale process. —Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 8 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slight
  1. weak
  2. minor
  3. little
  4. nominal
  5. small
  6. insult
  7. offend
  8. isolate
Adjective
  • An atmospheric river should track across California, even into southern California, by Tuesday, March 31, but is currently forecast to remain too weak to cause flooding issues, the WPC said.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
  • At the hospital in Dollow, mothers sat shoulder to shoulder on narrow beds holding frail children, some too weak to cry while others let out soft whimpers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2026
  • In a letter sent to students, the academic institution said there had been some minor damage to buildings but no injuries.
    — Moriah Thomas, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Definition of minor
Adjective
  • Residents in the San Gabriel Valley are contending with a dramatic surge in black flies, a painful little pest known for biting around the eyes and necks of people and pets.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Plus, little baby leaves are thinner.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Definition of little
Adjective
  • Because a present that is over $100, Miss Manner assures you, is indeed meant for a wedding and not a shower, whose gifts are supposed to be more nominal.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • In an alternative scenario, the cap would stay fixed in nominal dollar terms, in our examples at $100,000 or $70,000 sans bumps for the CPI, for 20 or 30 years, and after those intervals grow in tandem with wages.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of nominal
Adjective
  • Some of the district's smallest elementary schools now serve only a couple of hundred students, limiting available resources.
    — Da Lin, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Higher bond yields ripple through all kinds of credit markets, making everything from mortgages to small-business loans more expensive.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
Definition of small
Noun
  • Laughs and insults, all expressed at a high volume, were guaranteed to follow.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
  • The fan repeatedly shouted insults at Punk while pledging allegiance to Reigns.
    — Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of insult
Verb
  • Prosecutors said messages in the group chat along with the fact that the Pawula sent the texts to Rita, Chad Salefski and other family and friends of Rita and Salefski showed they were intended to offend the two political candidates.
    — Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
  • For a man behind a franchise that’s known for platforming outspoken women, Andy Cohen sure seems offended by Sarah Michelle Gellar‘s criticism of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of offend
Verb
  • The goal is to facilitate talks and secure an easing of the White House pressure campaign to isolate Cuba through a de facto oil blockade that is causing crippling fuel shortages and worsening blackouts, according to several people familiar with the talks.
    — Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2026
  • When decision-making time came after his sophomore season, Karaban isolated himself and went quiet.
    — Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of isolate

Browse Nearby Words

sliding
slight
slighted
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Cite this Entry

“Slight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slight. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on slight

Nglish: Translation of slight for Spanish Speakers

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