Slender — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈslen-dər/ slen·der

Meaning & Definition of Slender

Slender (adjective)

  1. spare in frame or flesh; especially, gracefully slight
  2. small or narrow in circumference or width in proportion to length or height
  3. limited or inadequate in amount or scope, meager

Slender (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being of less than usual width

    "graceful, slender table legs"

    similar: fine, hairline, narrow, needlelike, paper-thin, skinny, slim, slim-jim, thin, ultrathin
    related: attenuate, attenuated, elongate, linear, bottleneck, close, compressed, condensed, constricted, contracted, squeezed, tight, tightened, lanky, rangy, reedy, shoestring, spindly, stalky, stringy, twiggy, willowy, wispy, lank, spare
    opposite: broad, fat, wide
    near: chunky, squat, stocky, stumpy, thick, thickset, bulky, massive, voluminous, thickish, widish

  2. having a noticeably small amount of body fat

    "unsurprisingly, the aerobics instructor is slender and athletic"

    similar: bony, fatless, lean, lithe, skinny, slim, spare, svelte, thin
    related: clean-limbed, trim, sylphlike, willowy, angular, rawboned, scraggy, scrawny, sinewy, wiry, lank, lanky, rangy, reedy, spindling, spindly, stringy, twiggy, waspish, weedy, anorectic, anorexic, cadaverous, emaciated, gaunt, haggard, pinched, skeletal, wasted, wizened, meager, puny, slight
    opposite: chubby, corpulent, fat, gross, obese, overweight, plump, portly, rotund, tubby
    near: beefy, bulky, chunky, fleshy, heavy, heavyset, stocky, stout, thick, thickset, weighty, brawny, burly, husky, dumpy, pudgy, roly-poly, squat, stubby, paunchy, potbellied, flabby, soft, buxom, zaftig, full, hippy, round

  3. less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable

    "people of slender means simply can't afford those prices"

    similar: exiguous, hand-to-mouth, light, meager, poor, scant, scanty, scarce, skimp, skimpy, slim, spare, sparing, sparse, stingy, thin on the ground
    related: deficient, inadequate, insufficient, lacking, short, wanting, bare, bare-bones, least, littlest, lowest, mere, minimal, slightest, slight, small, thin, barren, infertile, sterile, unfruitful, unproductive
    opposite: abundant, ample, bountiful, copious, generous, liberal, plenteous, plentiful
    near: adequate, enough, satisfactory, sufficient, tolerable, fat, fecund, fertile, fruitful, prolific, rich, lavish, luxuriant, blooming, bursting, flourishing, proliferative, swarming, teeming, thriving, excess, extra, surplus

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Slender

The most common words with a similar meaning to Slender:

fine, hairline, narrow, needlelike, paper-thin, skinny, slim, slim-jim, thin, ultrathin, bony, fatless, lean, lithe, spare, svelte, exiguous, hand-to-mouth, light, meager, poor, scant, scanty, scarce, skimp, skimpy, sparing, sparse, stingy, thin on the ground

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Slender

Words with the opposite meaning of Slender:

broad, fat, wide, chubby, corpulent, gross, obese, overweight, plump, portly, rotund, tubby, abundant, ample, bountiful, copious, generous, liberal, plenteous, plentiful

Related Words for Slender

attenuate, attenuated, elongate, linear, bottleneck, close, compressed, condensed, constricted, contracted, squeezed, tight, tightened, lanky, rangy, reedy, shoestring, spindly, stalky, stringy, twiggy, willowy, wispy, lank, clean-limbed, trim, sylphlike, angular, rawboned, scraggy

Near Antonyms of Slender

chunky, squat, stocky, stumpy, thick, thickset, bulky, massive, voluminous, thickish, widish, beefy, fleshy, heavy, heavyset, stout, weighty, brawny, burly, husky, dumpy, pudgy, roly-poly, stubby, paunchy, potbellied, flabby, soft, buxom, zaftig

Word Forms of Slender

Derived words: slenderly (adverb), slenderness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Slender

Middle English sclendre, slendre, from Anglo-French esclendre

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Slender

What does "Slender" mean?

"Slender" means spare in frame or flesh; especially, gracefully slight. As an adjective, it is defined as: spare in frame or flesh; especially, gracefully slight. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Slender"?

Other words for "Slender" include fine, hairline, narrow, needlelike, paper-thin, skinny, slim and slim-jim. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Slender" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Slender"?

There are 98 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Slender". Common alternatives include fine, hairline, narrow, needlelike, paper-thin, skinny, slim, slim-jim, thin and ultrathin.

What is the opposite of "Slender"?

Antonyms of "Slender" include broad, fat, wide, chubby, corpulent, gross, obese and overweight. Near antonyms include chunky, squat, stocky and stumpy.

How do you use "Slender" in a sentence?

Examples of "Slender" in a sentence: "graceful, slender table legs"; "unsurprisingly, the aerobics instructor is slender and athletic"; "people of slender means simply can't afford those prices".

Is "Slender" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Slender" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Slender"?

"Slender" is pronounced /ˈslen-dər/ and divided into syllables as slen·der.

What is the origin of the word "Slender"?

"Slender" comes from Middle English sclendre, slendre, from Anglo-French esclendre. First known use: 14th century.