1
as in weak
lacking bodily strength
a small lad with a slight build
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in minor
lacking importance
a slight comedy that did nothing to further her career
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in little
of a size that is less than average
the slight youth packed a surprisingly solid punch
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in small
small in degree
only a slight chance of success
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
refused to respond to their petty slights
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to insult
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in
the dancers felt slighted by the harsh comments of the judges
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to disdain
to show contempt for
music critics who slight any style of music that doesn't fit their personal taste
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to ignore
to fail to give proper attention to
slighted several major authors in her survey of 20th-century fiction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 15 May 2026
Most research suggests that lower estrogen levels cause the body’s heat manager — the hypothalamus — to respond to slight changes in body temperature, triggering a chain of events that produces the sudden rush of heat.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026
Devon Henderson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
According to the 45-member South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, the latest slight to these communities is a series of five bills (code named BUILD) working their way through the state legislature.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Nick Laird, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Too few compliments make kids feel slighted, while too many can inspire arrogance.
—Wayne Parker, Parents, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for slight
Adjective
That plus a slight regression in one-score games means this fall’s record may well not look as gaudy as last year’s.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 15 May 2026
Most research suggests that lower estrogen levels cause the body’s heat manager — the hypothalamus — to respond to slight changes in body temperature, triggering a chain of events that produces the sudden rush of heat.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026
Noun
After the fact, Brown suggested Embiid’s takeover might have been evidence the 32-year-old had taken notice of Brown’s slights.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
According to the 45-member South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, the latest slight to these communities is a series of five bills (code named BUILD) working their way through the state legislature.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Verb
But in discharging this function, poets are in danger of slighting another imperative, namely, to redress poetry as poetry, to set it up as its own category, an eminence established and a pressure exercised by distinctly linguistic means.
—Nick Laird, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Too few compliments make kids feel slighted, while too many can inspire arrogance.
—Wayne Parker, Parents, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for slight
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slight
Adjective
-
Free agency is weak, so the best bet will be the trade market.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
The original vision of the Accords – of a rapidly expanding regional bloc openly aligned with Israel and integrated economically across the Middle East – has become a significantly weaker prospect.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
While minor, the crashes point to challenges in object recognition and spatial awareness, particularly in complex parking or tight urban environments.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
-
The Porter County Election Board worked through some minor kinks with the county’s new voting equipment during the election certification at noon on Friday in the tabulation room of the Elections & Registration Office.—
Shelley Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Rami feared the worst, but head coach Didier Deschamps reasoned that there was little to gain from laying down the law when the mood in the camp was so positive and elected to forgive him.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
-
Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement are alarmed by the speed of the rollbacks, noting that protections won through generations of sacrifice have been weakened in little more than a decade.—
Kim Chandler,
Chicago Tribune,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
OnStage in Bedford began performing plays and musicals over 40 years ago in buildings the organization leased from the city for a nominal fee.—
Elizabeth Campbell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 May 2026
-
Unprocessed marijuana typically can fetch more than $600 a pound on the open market, depending on the category, but manufacturers often report to the state’s tracking system unrealistic nominal sales, often as low as a penny or dollar a pound, Lambert said.—
Christopher Osher,
ProPublica,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Eggs, sushi, and crypto The account paid attention to smaller stories, too.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
-
East is a boutique hotel, some condos, and a small residential neighborhood with a few local restaurants.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
The blowout loss would’ve been enough agony, but there were injuries to match the insult.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
-
Adding insult to injury, Hasna accuses Meriem of using her body to get a cushier, better paying job as maid inside the boss’ luxurious home.—
Jay Weissberg,
Variety,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Nothing could offend her more than the suggestion that her love for turning a spark of an idea into an electric joke is a waste of time.—
Caroline Framke,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
-
No one should be offended at the mention of this.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
While no specific therapy is approved for ANDV, early recognition dramatically improves the ability to deliver aggressive supportive care, monitor oxygenation, isolate potentially infectious patients, and initiate contact tracing before broader transmission occurs.—
Steve Brozak,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Half of those people are isolating at home, while the other half are being monitored at the hospital in Omaha and at a medical center in Kansas City.—
Rebecca Cohen,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slight.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slight. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
