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

Other Word Forms

• slenderness noun
• slenderly adverb
• unslender 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

New congressional maps about to be adopted in Texas, which aim to replace as many as five Democratic-leaning seats with likely Republican seats, are primarily aimed at protecting the GOP’s slender majority in Washington.

From Salon

Walking on a balcony, I turned a corner, and there he was, tall and slender, with soulful brown eyes and a longish mop of brown hair threatening to hide them.

From Los Angeles Times

A silhouette of a slender person with long hair appears between images of the Kelce brothers, and naturally fans are convinced it can only be that of one particular slender woman with long hair.

From Los Angeles Times

The redistricting could help pad the slender Republican majority in the House, which is the lower chamber of Congress.

From BBC

Harry Brook's 53 dragged England into a slender lead of 23.

From BBC

Related Words

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