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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective slim contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of slim are slender, slight, tenuous, and thin. While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness.

a slim volume of poetry
a slim chance

When is it sensible to use slender instead of slim?

The words slender and slim are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.

the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

Where would slight be a reasonable alternative to slim?

In some situations, the words slight and slim are roughly equivalent. However, slight implies smallness as well as thinness.

a slight build

When can tenuous be used instead of slim?

The words tenuous and slim can be used in similar contexts, but tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.

a tenuous thread

When is thin a more appropriate choice than slim?

While in some cases nearly identical to slim, 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

Examples 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 slim Following the November 2024 elections Republicans have a majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives, though the latter in particular is very slim. Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025 However, its unclear if the Senate will have the votes to pass the bill, even with its slim majority. Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 14 Jan. 2025 Congress, which has a slim Republican majority, could get technically involved by threatening to withhold federal funds to the MTA. John Towfighi, CNN, 12 Jan. 2025 That means no single-season rushing record for running back Saquon Barkley, and the Eagles are only a slim favorite over the 3-13 Giants. Adam Gretz, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for slim 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slim
Adjective
  • From pencil thin brows to cool-toned smokey eyes, all the cool girls are channeling that iconic vintage supermodel aesthetic.
    Kleigh Balugo, StyleCaster, 13 Jan. 2025
  • The faux leather exterior is sleek and practical for this time of year, while the inside has a thin fleece lining to keep you warm.
    Nicol Natale, People.com, 13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The slender giant moray (Strophidon sathete) and a few other species can also tolerate and occasionally enter lower-salinity environments such as river mouths.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 2 Jan. 2025
  • In January, 2016, David Cameron, the former Conservative Prime Minister, announced that the new structure would be built in Victoria Tower Gardens, a slender triangular park, overhung with forty-four plane trees, that follows the banks of the River Thames.
    Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • While Trump's trial and arraignment brought crowds and overnight lines, on Friday morning, the general public line was sparse and no onlookers in the park across the street were visible before dawn.
    Graham Kates, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2025
  • But in the area between the innermost and outer walls, finds are sparse.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Billionaire and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos created Blue Origin back in 2000, but has to date only launched the smaller suborbital New Shepard rockets from its facilities in West Texas.
    RICHARD TRIBOU ORLANDO SENTINEL (TNS), arkansasonline.com, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Those smaller fires, like the Woodley and Lidia fires, have been contained as of Monday, and 89% of the moderately sized Hurst Fire is also under control, Cal Fire said.
    Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The narrow edge is expected to get even slimmer when two Republican members of congress join Trump’s cabinet.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 13 Jan. 2025
  • But there are big stumbling blocks, including the narrow window to reach a deal and the widely varied value of the app.
    Auzinea Bacon, CNN, 13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • DirecTV was involved in a nearly two-week dispute with Walt Disney Company last September over a new carriage agreement where DirecTV sought the ability to offer skinnier bundles of channels.
    Joe Reedy, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2025
  • Zones 3-9. J. communis ‘Pencil Point’– Like other junipers, this skinny shrub tolerates poor, dry soils and needs little attention once established.
    Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Harmonizing data within an organization minimizes redundancies, improves data governance, serves as a single source of truth, and makes better use of scarce resources.
    Jan Gilg, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
  • The fighting has displaced hundreds of thousands, forcing many into overcrowded camps with scarce resources.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The Leafs might be asking too much of him as a 33-year-old playing mostly on his off side in a top-four role.
    Joshua Kloke, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
  • Littleton offers the perfect home base for visitors wanting to spend their off-slope time in civilization.
    Sarah Cahalan, Travel + Leisure, 23 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near slim

Cite this Entry

“Slim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slim. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on slim

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