slight
Americanadjective
-
slighter,
comparative
-
slightest
superlative
-
small in amount, degree, etc..
a slight increase;
a slight odor.
- Antonyms:
- considerable
-
of little importance, influence, etc.; trivial.
a slight cut.
- Synonyms:
- paltry, trifling, insignificant
-
slender or slim; not heavily built.
-
frail; flimsy; delicate.
a slight fabric.
-
of little substance or strength.
- Synonyms:
- inconsiderable, unsubstantial
verb (used with object)
-
slights,
present (3rd person singular)
-
slighted,
past participle, past
-
slighting
present participle
noun
-
slights
plural
-
an act or instance of slighting or being slighted.
The critics’ slights led her to change direction in her work.
- Synonyms:
- inattention, disregard, neglect
-
a pointed and contemptuous discourtesy; affront.
She considered not being invited an unforgivable slight.
adjective
-
small in quantity or extent
-
of small importance; trifling
-
slim and delicate
-
lacking in strength or substance
-
dialect ill
verb
-
to show indifference or disregard for (someone); snub
-
to treat as unimportant or trifling
-
to devote inadequate attention to (work, duties, etc)
noun
Synonym Usage
See slender. Slight, disregard, neglect, overlook mean to pay no attention or too little attention to someone or something. To slight is to give only superficial attention to something important: to slight one's work. To disregard is to pay no attention to a person or thing: to disregard the rules; in some circumstances, to disregard may be admirable: to disregard a handicap. To neglect is to shirk paying sufficient attention to a person or thing: to neglect one's correspondence. To overlook is to fail to see someone or something (possibly because of carelessness): to overlook a bill that is due. See insult.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Adjectives
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
slightsimple
-
slightssimple
-
have slightedperfect
-
has slightedperfect
-
am slightingprogressive
-
are slightingprogressive
-
is slightingprogressive
-
have been slightingperfect progressive
-
has been slightingperfect progressive
Past
-
slightedsimple
-
had slightedperfect
-
was slightingprogressive
-
were slightingprogressive
-
had been slightingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of slight
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English (adjective) “smooth, sleek, slender”; compare Old English -sliht- in eorth-slihtes “even with ground”; cognate with German schlicht, Old Norse slēttr, Gothic slaihts “smooth”
Explanation
Anything slight is very small. There's a slight chance you'll run into a celebrity in New York City — in other words, don't count on it. A slight is also an insult, like giving someone the cold shoulder. Burr. Every meaning of slight stems from the Old Norse for "small or flimsy." If you have a slight build, you're slim with small bones. A slight deviation from your plan is a tiny adjustment. As a verb, to slight means to ignore or be indifferent toward someone; it's also the noun for the act of ignoring. If you direct a movie and the star doesn't thank you in her award acceptance speech, you'll be offended at the slight.
Vocabulary lists containing slight
Some Tricky Homonyms
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Words from Shakespearean Insults
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15 Synonyms for "Thin": An Eileen Ford (1922-2014) Tribute List
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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.
See Examples For:
Votes were still being counted the day after the election, but by early Wednesday morning, Raman had taken a slight lead over Bass.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
When the findings were combined, the results were consistent with outcomes ranging from a slight decline in quality of life to a substantial improvement.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 2, 2026
"So it's a slight help, but it's not enough."
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
A slight jab and a vaguely sore arm later, I’m now halfway to being significantly more protected against a shingles outbreak than I was before.
From Slate ● Nov. 1, 2026
Well, he has no trouble with the fast pace, though he walks with a slight limp.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
She alienated others with a waspish temper, an unwillingness to forgive even small slights and inattention to some of the details that make a union work.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
But her open-hearted grace and ability to take such slights in stride resonated with everyday folks otherwise overlooked by upper-crust tastemakers.
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
This helps explain why he can’t disregard her criticism the way any normal person might shrug off slights from someone they don’t respect.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
"An overwhelming picture has emerged of your rage, anger, and volatility", said the judge, adding that George had a "pronounced temper" which could be sparked by trivial matters and "perceived slights".
From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026
To get even for all the names he was called and the slights he’d suffered.
From "Time Bomb" by Joelle Charbonneau
Whoever was appointed into such a high profile post would have faced scrutiny and Jason Arday had a slighter research track record than some others in the field.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Seattle-area residents may have another, albeit slighter, chance to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis Saturday evening, the Seattle office of the National Weather Service says.
From Seattle Times ● May 11, 2024
As the storylines have become more current, they have, perhaps inevitably, become both slighter and messier.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 14, 2023
Wu showcases a knack for mining meaning out of the slighter essays, about her teenage job at a quaint bakery, for example, or her idiosyncratic affection for bunnies.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 2, 2022
Instead a slighter and far more welcome figure was chasing after me.
From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood
"Now the slightest piece of information is being turned into intelligence reports, and officers are being deployed left, right and centre."
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026
Seven did not flatter them in the slightest.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
Like other Swedish candies, they contain no gelatin, giving them a lightweight texture with the slightest sugary crunch.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
However, the film does have its limitations when it comes to the other wildlife, all digitally created and the CGI isn’t convincing in the slightest.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
“I should have done it years ago, but I told her tonight instead. I thought she took it well but clearly I was wrong. I haven’t the slightest idea what Alexander was doing there.”
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
That’s left some residents feeling slighted, saying they were unaware of the attraction until ground was moved.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Leaving a group trip where someone feels financially slighted can lead to conflict when you get back home.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 11, 2026
Simon gave back despite feeling slighted by the school, from which he graduated with honors in 1985.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026
That plan began with repairing relationships in the local recruiting scene, many of whom had felt slighted by USC.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 3, 2025
“Why didn’t you call me?” said Julian, perplexed and perhaps a little slighted, when Charles finished his story.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
While having a drink in a bar shortly after arriving in Venezuela, he carelessly made a slighting comment about Simón Bolívar.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith says LeBron James confronted him at Thursday’s Lakers game over slighting Bronny, with the NBA star ‘making sure I mind what I say about his son.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 7, 2025
Black vultures have a massive 5 foot wing span, slighting smaller than the turkey vulture.
From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2022
The slighting of Oklahoma, the forgiving of Michigan, the mystery of Cincinnati and the elevation of Michigan State made for a confusing bunch separated by margins seemingly tiny.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 2, 2021
I’d thought I was getting back at her for slighting me.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
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