SLIGHT Synonyms: 549 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

slight 1 of 3

adjective

ˈslīt

Definition of slight next

as in weak

lacking bodily strength a small lad with a slight build

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in minor

lacking importance a slight comedy that did nothing to further her career

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as in little

of a size that is less than average the slight youth packed a surprisingly solid punch

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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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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

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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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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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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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

Examples of slight in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

That slight depth at the roots also directs attention to your facial features. —

Sophia Panych, Allure, 2 Nov. 2024 Sour cream: Adds creaminess and a slight tang to the mashed potatoes. —

Stacey Ballis, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024

Noun

Looking ahead to mid-September, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center's long-range Global Tropical Hazards Outlook calls for a slight to moderate chance of new tropical development over the Central Atlantic Ocean. —

Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2024 During Tessa and Ben’s brief stay, jealousies, hookups, slights and arguments happen and point to personality fractures in all parties involved. —

Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2024

Verb

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan publicly slights Israel on an almost daily basis to drum up domestic political support, for example asserting that Israel’s treatment of Gaza surpasses the brutality of the Nazi regime. —

Kemal Kirisci, Foreign Affairs, 6 May 2015 In one anecdote, former Bad Boy partner and president Kirk Burrowes said that Combs, 54, felt slighted when Shakur and Biggie (born Christopher Wallace) became pals. —

Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 29 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for slight

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slight

Adjective

Beijing can mitigate this with more stimulus, export controls and a weaker currency, although these steps carry risks such as capital flight, debt and further trade conflict.

David Kirton, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
Hasbro is still feeling the impact of a weak 2023 that led to excess inventory and closeouts, as well as growing pains related to its plan to right-size its business and shed less profitable toys and business segments.

Joan Verdon, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024