slight 1 of 3

adjective

ˈslīt How to pronounce slight (audio)
Definition of slightnext
1
as in weak
lacking bodily strength a small lad with a slight build

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2
as in minor
lacking importance a slight comedy that did nothing to further her career

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3
as in little
of a size that is less than average the slight youth packed a surprisingly solid punch

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4
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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5
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

1
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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2
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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3
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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4
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

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

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
But it will be set in modern times, but with a slight fantasy twist. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026 That’s a slight improvement for Minogue since his 27% score in February, with Healey dropping from 56% in that month. —Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 24 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 other opportunity provided by a coaching change is for players who might have felt slighted or not used properly to state their case to a new boss. —Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2026 But try to understand why your mom's feeling slighted. —Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slight
  1. weak
  2. minor
  3. little
  4. nominal
  5. small
  6. insult
  7. offend
  8. isolate
Adjective
  • Viel made a weak pass that led to the goal but had a strong hit on McDavid in the opening 20 minutes as well.
    — Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 25 Apr. 2026
  • With the uncertainty caused by the war with Iran, the price of oil going through the roof, and tariffs complicating company supply chains, analysts expected the labor market to get weaker.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • Snitker managed numerous minor-league clubs over the years, including Richmond, Mississippi, Durham and Macon.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Any minor spills or leaks within this storage area are expected to be contained within the basement level.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of minor
Adjective
  • Generally, the Hilton hotel, where the dinner has taken place for years, remains open to regular guests during the correspondents’ dinner, and security has typically been focused on the ballroom and rather than the hotel at large, with little screening for people not entering the dinner itself.
    — Collin Binkley, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Security has typically been focused on the ballroom — rather than the hotel at large — with little screening for people not entering the dinner itself.
    — Bridget Byrne, Baltimore Sun, 26 Apr. 2026
Definition of little
Adjective
  • 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
  • Companies provide most of the capital; Pegasus contributes a nominal share for compliance reasons and manages the investments.
    — Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of nominal
Adjective
  • Ceija Stojka’s small paintings at the Drawing Center swarm with such harrowing incident that viewers may not spot the mystery in the bottom right corner of many of her canvases.
    — Ben Davis, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The Pistons are small favorites on the road for Game 3.
    — Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of small
Noun
  • The president has spent a decade calling his rivals communists and traitors, among other hyperbolic insults.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
  • According to Politico, the conversation was nothing but a tirade of insults.
    — Tom Jurkowsky, Baltimore Sun, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of insult
Verb
  • But Driskell, the professor, said that the image seemed to offend even many in far-right Christian nationalist groups Trump has always counted on.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
  • My friend has always been ultra-sensitive, easily offended, misconstruing my questions.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of offend
Verb
  • Add to that the stresses of living in a small environment with other people and trying to accomplish a lot of tasks in a habitat that is isolated and dangerous.
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2026
  • O'Hara said those delays in January were isolated and a direct result of Operation Metro Surge's drain on local resources.
    — Conor Wight, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
Definition of isolate

Browse Nearby Words

sliding
slight
slighted
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Cite this Entry

“Slight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slight. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on slight

Nglish: Translation of slight for Spanish Speakers

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