slim

adjective

ˈslim How to pronounce slim (audio)
Definition of slimnext
1
as in thin
being of less than usual width a slim volume of poetry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slender
having a noticeably small amount of body fat the pressure on ballet dancers to remain gracefully slim

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sparse
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable slim pickings at the garage sale

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4
as in small
small in degree a slim chance is still better than none

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 slim That includes slim rectangular headlamps on either side of the brand's signature 4-dot lights. —New Atlas, 3 Apr. 2025 For instance, Francisco Lindor made two errors Tuesday — chances are slim of that morphing into a recurring problem. —Will Sammon, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025 That means with the slim majority in the House, two seats could flip the other direction. —ABC News, 30 Mar. 2025 Ensure the keep pile isn’t overflowing while your donate pile is slim. —Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slim
  1. thin
  2. slender
  3. sparse
  4. small
  5. narrow
  6. skinny
  7. scarce
  8. off
Adjective
  • The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.
    — STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Ibrahim had black hair and looked thin from malnutrition.
    — Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of thin
Adjective
  • The three super skinny pen tips can go from creating impossibly slender, seemingly real brow strokes to a cluster of freckles across the cheeks much like a stamp.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2025
  • But Cummings prefers to mail the slender tubes back to Crown Bees, which will care for them over the winter.
    — Martha Ann Overland, NPR, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of slender
Adjective
  • Prevent seeds from establishing by maintaining a healthy lawn, stop seed germination with pre-emergent herbicides, Maintain a Healthy Lawn Dandelions thrive in thin, sparse lawns and garden beds.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The trend left a lasting impact on Marchand and others in her generation who were left with sparse, barely-there brows.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of sparse
Adjective
  • In 2022, a consortium of private retirement-plan providers announced a collaboration to boost the portability of small retirement accounts.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The sheriff’s office handles homicide investigations for several smaller municipalities within the county.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of small
Adjective
  • On Saturday, the narrow field caused both teams to adapt to tighter spaces and quicker play.
    — Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
  • In a narrow scope, medical marijuana could benefit people, Redman said.
    — Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • The TikTok comments were replete with speculation that the friends may have even been skinny dipping—though Horton declined to confirm this.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
  • After what feels like years of obsessing over eyebrow trends (skinny, perfectly bushy, bleached) to treatments like lamination and microblading, learning to love the unruly swirls that appear in our brows just feels right.
    — Dulce Moncada, Glamour, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of skinny
Adjective
  • Details of who makes up the DOGE staff have been scarce despite the intense media attention on the team's efforts.
    — Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
  • As a rule, if rain is scarce, a crepe myrtle needs two to three gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter per week.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of scarce
Adjective
  • Last-minute fixes were still being made, and some Cubs players trickled into the clubhouse to put stuff in their lockers or work out on their off day.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Stewart’s on-field production left a lot to be desired last year, but his motor doesn’t have an off switch.
    — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of off

Browse Nearby Words

slights
slim
slime
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Cite this Entry

“Slim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slim. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on slim

Nglish: Translation of slim for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slim

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