slight

[ slahyt ]

/ slaɪt /

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See synonyms for: slight / slighted / slighter / slightest on Thesaurus.com

adjective, slight·er, slight·est.

small in amount, degree, etc.: a slight increase;a slight odor.

of little importance, influence, etc.; trivial: a slight cut.

slender or slim; not heavily built.

frail; flimsy; delicate: a slight fabric.

of little substance or strength.

verb (used with object)

to treat as of little importance.

to treat (someone) with indifference; ignore, especially pointedly or contemptuously; snub: to be slighted by society.

to do negligently; scamp: to slight one's studies.

noun

an act or instance of slighting or being slighted: The critics’ slights led her to change direction in her work.

a pointed and contemptuous discourtesy; affront: She considered not being invited an unforgivable slight.

OTHER WORDS FOR slight

2 insignificant, trifling, paltry.

4 weak, feeble, fragile.

5 unsubstantial, inconsiderable.

6 disdain, scorn.

9 neglect, disregard, inattention.

See synonyms for slight on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR slight

1 considerable.

See antonyms for slight on Thesaurus.com

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True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

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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”

synonym study for slight

3. See slender. 6. 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. 10. See insult.

OTHER WORDS FROM slight

slight·er, nounslight·ly, adverbslight·ness, nouno·ver·slight, adjective

Words nearby slight

sliding vector, slier, sliest, slieve, Slieve Donard, slight, slighted, slighting, slightly, Sligo, slily

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use slight in a sentence

Her slight miscalculation of how to fix the situation leads to her driving around the gas pump.
Slow Motion Tiger Jump, a Tornado at the Rose Bowl and More Viral Videos|The Daily Beast Video|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Some cuts, a few slight character changes, an idea or two about putting some humor into the script.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The traditional wisdom is “action is character,” and their evolution is one, with a slight edge to character.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He had a tailor who ran up dozens of the same suit in different sizes to account for slight variations in his weight.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Dawn was rising on November 24, 1964, and there was a slight fog but otherwise clear visibility.
‘Argo’ in the Congo: The Ghosts of the Stanleyville Hostage Crisis|Nina Strochlic|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was a slight shuddering movement of his whole frame—Bob was dead.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
And he replied shortly, and with a slight charming affectation of pride: "I did without."
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
Its continued presence in pulmonary tuberculosis is, however, a grave prognostic sign, even when the physical signs are slight.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
All that was necessary was a slight knowledge of a Cabinet Minister, and a smattering of schooling.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894|Various
His slight, thin, rather graceless figure seemed suddenly to expand, even to grow taller.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton

British Dictionary definitions for slight

slight

/ (slaɪt) /

adjective

small in quantity or extent

of small importance; trifling

slim and delicate

lacking in strength or substance

Southwest English dialect ill

verb (tr)

to show indifference or disregard for (someone); snub

to treat as unimportant or trifling

US to devote inadequate attention to (work, duties, etc)

noun

an act or omission indicating supercilious neglect or indifference

Derived forms of slight

slightness, noun

Word Origin for slight

C13: from Old Norse slēttr smooth; related to Old High German slehtr, Gothic slaihts, Middle Dutch slecht simple

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with slight

slight

see in the least (slightest).

slight

OTHER WORDS FOR slight

OPPOSITES FOR slight

Origin of slight

synonym study for slight

OTHER WORDS FROM slight

Words nearby slight

Words related to slight

How to use slight in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for slight

Derived forms of slight

Word Origin for slight

Other Idioms and Phrases with slight