slight 1 of 3

1
2
3
as in little
of a size that is less than average the slight youth packed a surprisingly solid punch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5

slight

2 of 3

noun

slight

3 of 3

verb

1
2
3
4

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

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
This marks a slight improvement compared to the 33 of the 61 CPS schools, or 54%, that fell below the state's standard for overall performance last year. Grace Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Sep. 2025 On top of that, the Pacific is showing a slight trend toward a La Niña pattern this winter. Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
And perhaps worst of all, inflating every slight into oppression cheapens true injustice. Jonathan Alpert, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025 Editor’s Pick The editor Harold Ross regarded an error in the magazine as a personal slight. Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
The Golden Knights are a team most competitors would be willing to slight. Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 8 July 2025 Related article Gay rights icon Harvey Milk’s legacy slighted by decision to rename Navy ship Wald says that waiting to transition can create additional psychological distress for a child and can raise their risk of depression, suicidality, self-harm or substance misuse. Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for slight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slight
Adjective
  • The ultrarich formula uses amino acids to reinforce weak strands, glycerin to hydrate and soften, silicones to smooth the cuticle, and coconut oil to add more moisture and shine.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
  • China’s economy showed further signs of weakness last month, with key data Monday revealing factory output and consumption rising at their weakest pace for around a year.
    Nino Paoli, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The two had a minor pull-apart but Adam Pearce screamed it down.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • The compound 7-OH is a naturally occurring substance in the kratom plant (Mitragyna speciosa), according to the FDA, but only a minor component, less than 2%, of the alkaloid content in natural kratom leaves.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The Olympic silver medalist ran textbook races all season with little to no critiques on form and competitive nature.
    Katelyn Hutchison, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Most available positions are informal, poorly compensated and offer little stability or room for career growth.
    Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Since 2020, public debt has surged by approximately 61%, outpacing nominal GDP growth of 38% through Q2 2025.
    Bob Haber, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Richard Kone, a goalscorer on the opening day of last season at the SToK Cae Ras in Wycombe Wanderers colours, may have been the nominal front man in a 4-2-3-1 set-up, but his link-up play and intelligent movement were matched by Harvey Vale, Koki Saito and Rumarn Burrell.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This personal blender can whip up breakfast smoothies, sauces and dips, salsas, omelets, and more thanks to its small but mighty 250-watt power base and stainless steel cross blade.
    Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Among its 14 plant oils are argan kernel and rice bran, which regulate sebum production and loosen dead skin cells, respectively—and, together, leave your pores looking significantly smaller and your skin significantly smoother.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Young Thug wasn’t the only target, however, as his girlfriend, Mariah The Scientist, also caught a few shots for entertaining Thugger’s insults over the phone.
    Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Bluesky, part of the decentralized internet, is slower paced and caters to niche interests, rewarding internecine fights over minutiae, whereas X is deliberately chaotic, encouraging the gathering of follower-armies and ideological insult-comedy for an audience that may be largely made up of bots.
    Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • When arthritis pain flares up, the area around the offending joint becomes inflamed and slightly acidic.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Unlike the common perception that assault requires hitting or causing injury, the law says even an act meant only to offend, like spitting, can be enough to trigger a charge.
    Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the headphones, meant to unify the audience in a shared soundscape, instead isolate viewers into their glowing silos, which feels like an ironic choice for a show supposedly about communal grief.
    David Hochman, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The procedure typically begins with local anesthesia and placement of a rubber dam to isolate the tooth.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slight. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on slight

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!