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

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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 HushJet Mini has a slender design that slips right inside my travel backpack’s bottle pouch. — Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026 Apart from her cushion cut diamond engagement ring, Meghan often favors slender, barely there pieces of jewelry. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 4 Aug. 2026 In this tall, slender building though, there’s a feel of being tucked away in the eaves of a guesthouse on some cobblestoned European side street, especially after the long and creaky elevator ride. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026 The shoes were held in place by a delicate, slender arch strap that extended over the toes. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for slender

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slender

Adjective

Farinacci often spent days and even weeks scouting potential fire locations, monitoring weather and wildfire data, and planning to set multiple fires to stretch firefighting resources thin, according to detectives.

— Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Those moments are sobering reminders of just how thin the margins are for the Phillies rotation, which has been excellent for the most part, though extremely top-heavy.

— Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of thin

Adjective

Sorry millennials, skinny jeans have taken a back seat lately for baggier styles, and Emily Ratajkowski isn’t the only celeb on board.

— Ali Faccenda, InStyle, 9 Aug. 2026
This peak Millennial era was a mix of hipster and bohemian aesthetic, with skinny jeans, flannel shirts, flowy lace dresses, oversized felt hats, and combat boots or TOMS Shoes (Hey, remember those?

— Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of skinny

Adjective

The Kennedy Center has grown increasingly marooned from its many patrons and performing arts peers in recent months, and today has a starkly sparse programming schedule.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Inside Colombia, tremors from the quake’s epicenter reached as far as the remote region of Chocó on Monday, where sparse inroads could potentially delay efforts to reach more than half a million residents, according to Grece.

— Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of sparse

Adjective

Totality — when the sun is completely obscured — is only visible within the narrow path of the moon's shadow.

— Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2026
The part east of West Broadway that bleeds into the grit of the Financial District, the skyscrapers so tall and the streets so narrow that sunlight doesn’t reach much at all.

— Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of narrow

Adjective

My discipline is to fight that instinct and lean toward being there, even when the case for staying put looks reasonable.

— John Speranza, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
So what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has done is lean unusually hard on the cheaper rate today to finance a roughly $2 trillion annual deficit.

— Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of lean

Adjective

Without any attacking additions and injuries to Simons and Odobert, and with no public timeline for Dejan Kulusevski’s return — though the club are keen to preach patience having not played for over 400 days — options are slim in attack.

— Elias Burke, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Google on Wednesday unveiled its latest lineup of Pixel phones, with slimmer cameras that include more a powerful zoom and artificial intelligence features designed to help users accomplish things with fewer taps and swipes.

— Barbara Ortutay, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of slim

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“Slender.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slender. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of slender

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