slight 1 of 3

Definition of slightnext
1
2
3
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
Chick 1, now Sandy, is larger, with a larger head and neck and a slight curve to its gape, the yellow corners of the mouth. Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 1 May 2026 Apple beat Wall Street forecasts on the top and bottom lines for the three months ended in March despite a slight miss on iPhone sales, which were still extremely robust. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
Coach Cori Close seemed unconcerned with the slight. Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026 Basketball Hall of Famer Reggie Miller was highly criticized for comparing Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark's game to Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard, with fans taking it as a slight toward Clark. Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
The right felt slighted, again, this time as the victim of a great left-wing conspiracy to turn football’s biggest night against them. Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026 Did Probst feel slighted by all the backlash? David Canfield, Vanity Fair, 20 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slight
Adjective
  • Based on the popular 1960s spy sitcom, this weak adaptation casts Steve Carell as a bumbling secret agent, with Hathaway as his more competent partner and developing love interest.
    Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
  • In particular, researchers experimentally demonstrated quadsqueezing, a complex fourth-order quantum interaction previously considered too weak to observe.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • The buckling may start in the middle, and minor variations in a given can’s shape and size might affect when the first ring emerges.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
  • Obtain one that contains major and minor nutrients.
    Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Adjective
  • Rust spores overwinter in leaf debris and infect new foliage in spring with as little as two to four hours of moisture.
    Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
  • But certain elements of the package, such as a proposal to expand mayoral authority, received little direct attention during Thursday’s public comment.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 2 May 2026
Adjective
  • If a more involved DIY installation sounds prohibitive, Starlink does contract with installers nationwide for a nominal fee.
    Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026
  • And, in the end, none of the aforementioned might be available except for Ja Morant, who might be only a nominal upgrade, if that.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Its gibbous disk appears small and featureless.
    Joe Rao, Space.com, 2 May 2026
  • Trump has signed executive orders to reduce housing regulatory burdens and help smaller banks provide mortgages.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • The other guys are on their feet, trying to break it up, someone is calling someone else a loser, there are swings and kicks and insults, men grabbing at other men, trying to restrain them and busting the restraints.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 May 2026
  • After discussion with my editors, ProPublica decided to note the insults in the story.
    Hannah Allam, ProPublica, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • Baselitz was charged with offending public morality; the case dragged on for two years before being dismissed, but his reputation was cemented.
    News Desk, Artforum, 1 May 2026
  • The image of an officer peering into the empty driver’s seat of the offending vehicle may have been good for a chuckle, but other incidents have been no laughing matter.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • These isotopes have half-lives lasting hundreds of thousands of years, which determines the conditions for isolating radioactive waste from the environment.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 1 May 2026
  • Hosted by political commentator and comedian Greg Gutfeld, the game show is made up of five contestants who are isolated for three months, the company said in the press release.
    Saleen Martin, USA Today, 1 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slight. Accessed 8 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on slight

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster