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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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

slighter, nounslightly, adverbslightness, nouno·ver·slight, adjective

un·slight·ed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use slight in a sentence

In any case, Pakistan as a nation has been unforgiving of any slights against Islam.
Disco Mullah Blasphemy Row Highlights Pakistan’s Hypocrisy|Shaheen Pasha|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The discrimination and slights Abe experiences are “part and parcel of what we are experiencing in the world,” says Akhtar.
Religion, Race, and a Broadway Hit: The Making of ‘Disgraced’|Tim Teeman|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The most important thing, he and these experts agreed, was finding an environment where slights never escalate to violence.
Obama’s $120 Million School Safety Plan|Elizabeth Lopatto|June 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That is, real threats to the nation and its physical integrity, as opposed to perceived slights to our values.
John McCain’s Middle East War Drumbeat: Iraq, Libya, and Now Syria|Lloyd Green|June 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST

The tiniest of slights from any vaguely left-of-center source is converted into fuel for the rage machine.
Twitchy! Michelle Malkin's Phony War|Tom Doran|April 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
She was too sensitive to slights to risk the repulses he says she accepted.
Mary Wollstonecraft|Elizabeth Robins Pennell
He didn't dare even to rebel against the slights of the man over him, because he needed that twelve dollars a week.
The Escape of Mr. Trimm|Irvin S. Cobb
And the little dogs and the curs remembered now the many slights cast upon them.
The Isle of Unrest|Henry Seton Merriman
Deep and painful were the wounds of her offended pride at the slights, the insults of these defeated plans.
Sir Jasper Carew|Charles James Lever
When people get into this state they become ultra-sensitive, and see slights and insults where none were meant.
Nervous Breakdowns and How to Avoid Them|Charles David Musgrove

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 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