SLENDER Synonyms: 178 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'slender' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of slender are slight , slim , tenuous , and thin . While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion. // the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

Q: When is 'slight' a more appropriate choice than 'slender'?

The words slight and slender are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slight implies smallness as well as thinness. // a slight build

Q: When would 'slim' be a good substitute for 'slender'?

The words slim and slender 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: In what contexts can 'tenuous' take the place of 'slender'?

Although the words tenuous and slender have much in common, tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness. // a tenuous thread

Q: When might 'thin' be a better fit than 'slender'?

While the synonyms thin and slender are close in meaning, 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

slender

adjective

ˈslen-dər

Definition of slender next

as in thin

being of less than usual width graceful, slender table legs

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in skinny

having a noticeably small amount of body fat unsurprisingly, the aerobics instructor is slender and athletic

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as in sparse

less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable people of slender means simply can't afford those prices

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective slender contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of slender are slight, slim, tenuous, and thin. While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.

the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

When is slight a more appropriate choice than slender?

The words slight and slender are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slight implies smallness as well as thinness.

a slight build

When would slim be a good substitute for slender?

The words slim and slender can be used in similar contexts, but slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness.

a slim volume of poetry

a slim chance

In what contexts can tenuous take the place of slender?

Although the words tenuous and slender have much in common, tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.

a tenuous thread

When might thin be a better fit than slender?

While the synonyms thin and slender are close in meaning, 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 slender There’s something about the clincher in a 2-0 win, when the opposition has been pressing for an equaliser with tension mounting as your slender lead starts to look precarious. —

Nick Miller, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026 Night begins with a brand-new two-door 1967 Pontiac LeMans crawling on vertiginous Franklin Road outside Evans City, Pennsylvania, before making a hairpin turn up a steep, slender dirt road that leads into the famous cemetery. —

Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026 However, more petite variations bring something new and fresh—particularly pencil tile, a slender shape measuring around 1-by-12 inches. —

Shagun Khare, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026 There's just one real road that runs up and down this slender stretch of coast due to Tulum's quick growth, making navigating a breeze (but traffic is nothing less than hectic for much of the day). —

Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slender

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slender

Adjective

While that advice refers primarily to metal utensils, the same principles apply across materials, especially where thin construction can increase the risk of breakage.

— Darlin Tillery, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Not only did that article form the basis of the film, but Lumet actually took the note and cast Pacino in the role of that dark, thin fellow.

— Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026

Definition of thin

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“Slender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slender. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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Synonyms of slender

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