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

as in thin

being of less than usual width graceful, slender table legs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sparse

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The adult male and female worms live paired together with the slender female worm tucked into a groove within the thicker male. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026 The slender black flies have a red thorax and slightly transparent wings. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Sep. 2026 First Dakota Johnson revives the 2010s hipster uniform of ankle boots, a flannel, and slender jeans at the US Open. — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 16 Sep. 2026 Or perhaps as a slender volume whose first chapter signals its interest in parenting and dating in a blue collar Yorkshire town cast in a permanent pall of mist. — Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 15 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slender

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slender

Adjective

When new, concrete possesses a thin, temporarily protective layer that, if not maintained, will wear away, exposing the interior, which gradually crumbles.

— Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Officials issued the alert Monday after a man shared with police an image appearing to show the dangerous reptile slithering from the thin branch of a tree onto the roof of a backyard shed.

— Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of thin

Adjective

Elsewhere, Julia Fox erupted on the scene, sporting skinny brows, overly blushed cheeks, black liner and glossed lips, no less.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
There were handheld American flags on skinny sticks, midsize ones to display on a wall and majestic formal flags adorned with silky gold fringe.

— Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of skinny

Adjective

The Kings began in 1967 before a sparse crowd in Long Beach, as executive Alan Rothenberg helped sell a skeptical Southern California on hockey’s place in a warm-weather city.

— Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
A couple of decades later, however, Ryan Field gamedays often seemed sparse.

— Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of sparse

Adjective

But do such experiences meet the narrow definition of attachment?

— Pascal Vrticka, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2026
When the pollsters gave likely voters additional, critical information about both candidates, Bass shot up by 5 points and took a narrow lead over Raman, 40% to 39%, with 21% undecided, according to FM3.

— James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of narrow

Adjective

In line with Parton’s original goal, the Imagination Library may do the most to change reading habits in lower-income homes – where children’s books tend to be scarce.

— Alex H. Poole, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026
Both men said that California was expensive, housing too scarce, homelessness too common and education too often failing to serve the state’s children.

— Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of scarce

Adjective

Canned seafood can include lean protein, essential omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DPA, potassium, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, iron and calcium, according to Michelle Dudash, RDN, author of The Low-Carb Mediterranean Cookbook.

— Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 5 Oct. 2026
Our staff sees it as competitive, but most lean toward the NL’s top seed moving on to the Championship Series.

— The Athletic MLB Staff, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of lean

Adjective

Still, Stutzman noted the timing of Democrats’ concern over the surveillance technology, with less than 30 days till the November elections where Republicans’ slim House majority is on the line.

— Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 6 Oct. 2026
The pumps feature a slim slingback strap that wraps around the ankle, securing the foot in place.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of slim

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“Slender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slender. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of slender

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