Slim — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈslim/

Meaning & Definition of Slim

Slim (adjective)

  1. of small diameter or thickness in proportion to the height or length, slender
  2. mean, worthless
  3. adroit, crafty

Slim (verb)

  1. to make slender, decrease the size of
  2. to become slender

Slim (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. being of less than usual width

    "a slim volume of poetry"

    similar: fine, hairline, narrow, needlelike, paper-thin, skinny, slender, 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

    "the pressure on ballet dancers to remain gracefully slim"

    similar: bony, fatless, lean, lithe, skinny, slender, 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

    "slim pickings at the garage sale"

    similar: exiguous, hand-to-mouth, light, meager, poor, scant, scanty, scarce, skimp, skimpy, slender, 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

  4. small in degree

    "a slim chance is still better than none"

    similar: fragile, frail, negligible, off, outside, remote, slight, small
    related: marginal, minimal, minor, little, tiny
    opposite: good
    near: great, large, distinct, significant, considerable, goodly, healthy, largish, respectable, sizable, substantial, tidy

Related Entry: Slim-jim (adjective)

Slim-jim is a different word from Slim. The synonyms below are for slim-jim, not for slim.

  1. being of less than usual width

    "an author whose published works are limited to one slim-jim volume of poetry"

    similar: fine, hairline, narrow, needlelike, paper-thin, skinny, slender, slim, 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

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Slim

The most common words with a similar meaning to Slim:

fine, hairline, narrow, needlelike, paper-thin, skinny, slender, 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, fragile, frail, negligible, off, outside, remote, slight, small, thin on the ground

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Slim

Words with the opposite meaning of Slim:

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

Related Words for Slim

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 Slim

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 Slim

Inflections: slimmer, slimmest, slimmed, slimming

Derived words: slimly (adverb), slimness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Slim

Dutch, bad, inferior, from Middle Dutch slimp crooked, bad; akin to Middle High German slimp awry

First known use: 1657

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Slim

  • Topics: Clothes & Appearance

Words & Phrases Containing Slim

slim-jim, slim chance, slim down, slim pickings, slim to none

Frequently Asked Questions about Slim

What does "Slim" mean?

"Slim" means of small diameter or thickness in proportion to the height or length, slender. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: of small diameter or thickness in proportion to the height or length, slender. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Slim"?

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

What are different ways to say "Slim"?

There are 108 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Slim". Common alternatives include fine, hairline, narrow, needlelike, paper-thin, skinny, slender, slim-jim, thin and ultrathin.

What is the opposite of "Slim"?

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

How do you use "Slim" in a sentence?

Examples of "Slim" in a sentence: "a slim volume of poetry"; "the pressure on ballet dancers to remain gracefully slim"; "slim pickings at the garage sale".

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

"Slim" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Slim"?

"Slim" is pronounced /ˈslim/.

What is the origin of the word "Slim"?

"Slim" comes from Dutch, bad, inferior, from Middle Dutch slimp crooked, bad; akin to Middle High German slimp awry. First known use: 1657.