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 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

Without fear of the slightest sanction, vessel operators have shunned high-cost U.S.-flagged ships for years. —

Craig Hooper, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025 Hard Rock Northern Indiana reported a slight decrease in earnings with about $35.9 million reported in December as compared to $36.2 million in December 2023, according to the report. —

Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025

Noun

This is not a slight against those men, who have historically driven much of our nation’s GDP growth. —

John Hope Bryant, TIME, 20 Nov. 2024 Dueling Facebook and social media pages, including Granbury Breaking News, are filled with slights and grievances between far-right Republicans — known as sharks — and moderates, referred to as whales. —

Jeffrey Fleishman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024

Verb

Luke Bryan feels slighted by recent election results — but not that one. —

Marina Watts, People.com, 21 Nov. 2024 Arab Americans are one voting bloc that’s used to being slighted by both major parties. —

Abdallah Fayyad, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 See all Example Sentences for slight

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slight

Adjective

Its woman-on-the-run story is weak at times, not quite engaging enough to get through the constant death and destruction.

— Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2025
China’s persistently low consumer inflation indicates that China is struggling with weak domestic demand, stoking fears of deflation.

— Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 9 Jan. 2025