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

Derived Forms

• ˈslenderness, noun
• ˈslenderly, adverb

Other Words From

• slender·ly adverb
• slender·ness noun
• un·slender 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

Helen is slender, attractive, cheerful and makes Wallace look like future prime minister material.

From Salon

They used slender rubber rings as their "squishy" grains and stacked them in a container.

From Science Daily

And in California’s agricultural San Joaquin Valley, Democrat Adam Gray holds a slender lead over GOP Rep. John Duarte, but the race remains too close to call.

From Los Angeles Times

He was Arkansas-born, slender, with pale blue eyes and wavy silver hair.

From Los Angeles Times

That is thanks to America’s electoral college system, which amplifies relatively slender victories in swing states.

From BBC

Related Words

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