slender
Americanadjective
-
having a circumference that is small in proportion to the height or length.
a slender post.
-
thin or slight; light and graceful.
slender youths.
-
small in size, amount, extent, etc.; meager.
a slender income.
-
having little value, force, or justification.
slender prospects.
-
thin or weak, as sound.
adjective
-
of small width relative to length or height
-
(esp of a person's figure) slim and well-formed
-
small or inadequate in amount, size, etc
slender resources
-
(of hopes, etc) having little foundation; feeble
-
very small
a slender margin
-
(of a sound) lacking volume
-
phonetics (now only in Irish phonology) relating to or denoting a close front vowel, such as i or e
Related Words
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of slender
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English slendre, sclendre; origin unknown
Explanation
Something slender is slight, or skinny. A young colt is slender compared to the full grown horse it will grow into. Slender can be used in both positive and negative ways. If someone tells you you have a slender figure, you'll probably be happy, unless you're going for muscle-mass. A slender portion of potatoes will not cheer a hungry growing boy. If you don't know much about something, you can say your knowledge of it is slender. And if you become an artist, get used to living on a slender budget. Now that's a nice way to put it.
Vocabulary lists containing slender
15 Synonyms for "Thin": An Eileen Ford (1922-2014) Tribute List
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Prince Caspian
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Slender 3-to-4-foot stems topped by pendant umbels of ivory, grayed wine and green echo the subtle coloration of the rose.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 15, 2023
Mirroring his journalism training, there is an emphasis on economy of language: Slender, at 190 pages, it possesses the character of a well-written travel feature.
From Washington Post • Apr. 13, 2023
Slender and well dressed, he is a mixture of defiance and raw emotion.
From BBC • Jan. 23, 2023
This week it was the backup quarterback, Mike Glennon, who looks like Slender Man’s unassuming cousin and helped Giants fans plumb new depths of despair.
From New York Times • Dec. 12, 2021
Slender and sinuous, olive green, mahogany red, scarlet, and ash, they were weighted with broad, gleaming leaves and velvet berries and shaded the beach stones and mud flats.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
