slender

[slen-der]

adjective

slenderer, slenderest 

1. having a circumference that is small in proportion to the height or length.

   a slender post.

2. thin or slight; light and graceful.

   slender youths.

   Antonyms: stocky, fat

3. small in size, amount, extent, etc.; meager.

   a slender income.

4. having little value, force, or justification.

   slender prospects.

   Synonyms: trifling, trivial

5. thin or weak, as sound.

   Synonyms: flimsy, delicate, fine, feeble, fragile

slender

/ ˈslɛndə /

adjective

1. of small width relative to length or height

2. (esp of a person's figure) slim and well-formed

3. small or inadequate in amount, size, etc

   slender resources

4. (of hopes, etc) having little foundation; feeble

5. very small

   a slender margin

6. (of a sound) lacking volume

7. phonetics (now only in Irish phonology) relating to or denoting a close front vowel, such as i or e

Other Word Forms

• slenderly adverb
• slenderness noun
• unslender adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of slender¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English slendre, sclendre; origin unknown

Word History and Origins

Origin of slender¹

C14 slendre, of unknown origin

Synonym Study

Slender, slight, slim imply a tendency toward thinness. As applied to the human body, slender implies a generally attractive and pleasing thinness: slender hands. Slight often adds the idea of frailness to that of thinness: a slight, almost fragile, figure. Slim implies a lithe or delicate thinness: a slim and athletic figure.

Example Sentences

Almost everyone reading this will recognize the slender, ponytailed figure who became a close friend and protector of the simian species most closely related to ours.

From Salon

I look at the slender brown hound next me, grey whiskers poking out round his nose.

From BBC

It’s a slender exercise with too much slow motion and a ridiculous ending.

From Los Angeles Times

New congressional maps about to be adopted in Texas, which aim to replace as many as five Democratic-leaning seats with likely Republican seats, are primarily aimed at protecting the GOP’s slender majority in Washington.

From Salon

Walking on a balcony, I turned a corner, and there he was, tall and slender, with soulful brown eyes and a longish mop of brown hair threatening to hide them.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• delicate 
• fragile 
• frail 
• lanky 
• lithe 
• meager 
• narrow 
• skinny 
• slight 
• slim 
• svelte 
• wiry 
• wispy