slim
1 of 2adjective
ˈslim 
slimmer; slimmest
1
: of small diameter or thickness in proportion to the height or length : slender
2
a
: mean, worthless
b
: adroit, crafty
3
a
: inferior in quality or amount : slight
b
: scanty, small
a slim chance
slimly adverb
slimness noun
slim
2 of 2verb
slimmed; slimming
transitive verb
: to make slender : decrease the size of
intransitive verb
: to become slender
Synonyms
Adjective
- fine
- hairline
- narrow
- needlelike
- paper-thin
- skinny
- slender
- slim-jim
- thin
- ultrathin
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective She looked slim and fit for her age. He has a slim build. I was a lot slimmer in those days. They have only a slim chance of winning. Verb She started exercising to slim her thighs. I'll skip dessert; I'm slimming. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2022 Encased by the wooden walls of the slim room, camera lights flashed; there was much to document on the milestone night. Isiah Magsino, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2022 The Patriots have no injuries among the linebacking corps, so chances are slim that Langi logs meaningful defensive snaps. Nicole Yang, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2022 The soft, semi-sheer jersey pants feature a high-rise with a slim flare cut and an elastic waistband. Seventeen, 9 Sep. 2022 The slim backpack carries 1.5 liters of water and has dedicated pockets for tools, pump and tubes, and two large front storage pockets on the chest harness for snacks and your phone. Graham Averill, Outside Online, 8 Sep. 2022 But their visibility at celebrations was limited, as events showcased the new slim-line monarchy, re-centered on the monarch and her direct heirs. Allison Prang, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Republican voters made Massachusetts the latest blue state this midterm season to nominate a Trump loyalist in a high-profile race, potentially dooming the party’s already-slim chances of winning in November. Amy Nakamura, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 Lastly, the Forme case is designed to be slim and translucent, while still offer protection for 10-foot drops. Christian De Looper, BGR, 7 Sep. 2022 Outside Online, 14 Aug. 2020 Easy to assemble and slim in stature, the WandVac is ideal for quick spruce-ups without all the fuss larger vacuums can require. Carolyn Forté, Good Housekeeping, 5 May 2022 But a major provision that was a high priority for Connecticut was taken out as the party needed to slim down the legislation: funding for child care. Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2022 The 41 mm case is wide enough to make all the functions readable but reasonably slim at 13 mm thick, thanks to the manual wound movement. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 25 May 2022 This first-of-its-kind Cartessa Aesthetics non-invasive professional treatment utilizes both deep heat and electrical muscle stimulation to help tone and slim the body. April Franzino, Good Housekeeping, 26 Apr. 2022 Best All-Terrain Shoe Designers managed to slim down the Saucony Peregrine 12 by over an ounce compared to its predecessor. Cory Smith, Outside Online, 27 May 2022 Other, less official royal sources, said that the limited balcony lineup was the result of the longstanding desire by Prince Charles to ‘slim down’ the monarchy. Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 2 June 2022 That didn’t stop Kardashian, who asked the Ripley team to give her a few weeks to slim down and fit into the original. Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 May 2022 See More
Adjective
Its lightweight and slim design makes the steam mop easy to get into tight corners and underneath bulky pieces of furniture. Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2022 Encased by the wooden walls of the slim room, camera lights flashed; there was much to document on the milestone night. Isiah Magsino, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2022 The Patriots have no injuries among the linebacking corps, so chances are slim that Langi logs meaningful defensive snaps. Nicole Yang, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Sep. 2022 The soft, semi-sheer jersey pants feature a high-rise with a slim flare cut and an elastic waistband. Seventeen, 9 Sep. 2022 The slim backpack carries 1.5 liters of water and has dedicated pockets for tools, pump and tubes, and two large front storage pockets on the chest harness for snacks and your phone. Graham Averill, Outside Online, 8 Sep. 2022 But their visibility at celebrations was limited, as events showcased the new slim-line monarchy, re-centered on the monarch and her direct heirs. Allison Prang, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 Republican voters made Massachusetts the latest blue state this midterm season to nominate a Trump loyalist in a high-profile race, potentially dooming the party’s already-slim chances of winning in November. Amy Nakamura, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2022 Lastly, the Forme case is designed to be slim and translucent, while still offer protection for 10-foot drops. Christian De Looper, BGR, 7 Sep. 2022 Verb
The lid detaches to convert into a daypack, or just to slim down the pack for shorter trips. Outside Online, 14 Aug. 2020 Easy to assemble and slim in stature, the WandVac is ideal for quick spruce-ups without all the fuss larger vacuums can require. Carolyn Forté, Good Housekeeping, 5 May 2022 But a major provision that was a high priority for Connecticut was taken out as the party needed to slim down the legislation: funding for child care. Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2022 The 41 mm case is wide enough to make all the functions readable but reasonably slim at 13 mm thick, thanks to the manual wound movement. Carol Besler, Robb Report, 25 May 2022 This first-of-its-kind Cartessa Aesthetics non-invasive professional treatment utilizes both deep heat and electrical muscle stimulation to help tone and slim the body. April Franzino, Good Housekeeping, 26 Apr. 2022 Best All-Terrain Shoe Designers managed to slim down the Saucony Peregrine 12 by over an ounce compared to its predecessor. Cory Smith, Outside Online, 27 May 2022 Other, less official royal sources, said that the limited balcony lineup was the result of the longstanding desire by Prince Charles to ‘slim down’ the monarchy. Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 2 June 2022 That didn’t stop Kardashian, who asked the Ripley team to give her a few weeks to slim down and fit into the original. Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Dutch, bad, inferior, from Middle Dutch slimp crooked, bad; akin to Middle High German slimp awry
First Known Use
Adjective
1657, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1862, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Phrases Containing slim
Kids Definition
slim 1 of 2
adjective
ˈslim
slimmer; slimmest
1
: slender sense 1
2
: very small
a slim chance
slim
2 of 2verb
slimmed; slimming
: to make or become slender
slim
adjective
1
as in thin
being of less than usual width a slim volume of poetry Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- thin
- slender
- narrow
- skinny
- fine
- tight
- ultrathin
- close
- elongated
- needlelike
- linear
- elongate
- spare
- condensed
- slim-jim
- hairline
- paper-thin
- compressed
- attenuated
- tightened
- squeezed
- lanky
- willowy
- attenuate
- constricted
- contracted
- spindly
- reedy
- rangy
- wispy
- twiggy
- stalky
- stringy
- bottleneck
- shoestring
- lank
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- wide
- fat
- broad
- stocky
- thick
- chunky
- bulky
- stumpy
- thickset
- voluminous
- squat
- massive
- thickish
- widish
2
as in slender
having a noticeably small amount of body fat the pressure on ballet dancers to remain gracefully slim Synonyms & Similar Words
- slender
- skinny
- thin
- lean
- bony
- svelte
- gaunt
- angular
- lithe
- trim
- skeletal
- fatless
- boney
- spare
- haggard
- willowy
- wiry
- scrawny
- lanky
- sylphlike
- rawboned
- sinewy
- reedy
- spindly
- anorexic
- clean-limbed
- lank
- twiggy
- weedy
- waspish
- emaciated
- rangy
- meager
- stringy
- scraggy
- wizened
- puny
- anorectic
- pinched
- cadaverous
- slight
- spindling
- meagre
- anoretic
- wasted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- plump
- chubby
- fat
- rotund
- corpulent
- overweight
- thick
- obese
- stocky
- bulky
- beefy
- chunky
- portly
- tubby
- stout
- fleshy
- heavyset
- heavy
- thickset
- weighty
- pudgy
- gross
- stubby
- burly
- brawny
- husky
- dumpy
- squat
- paunchy
- soft
- flabby
- potbellied
- buxom
- full
- zaftig
- round
- roly-poly
- hippy
- zoftig
3
as in sparse
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable slim pickings at the garage sale Synonyms & Similar Words
- sparse
- scarce
- slender
- poor
- skimpy
- meager
- small
- scanty
- lowest
- light
- short
- scant
- lacking
- meagre
- exiguous
- stingy
- thin
- insufficient
- spare
- minimal
- sparing
- skimp
- inadequate
- niggardly
- mere
- thin on the ground
- deficient
- hand-to-mouth
- least
- slightest
- wanting
- sterile
- bare-bones
- littlest
- bare
- slight
- unfruitful
- barren
- infertile
- unproductive
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- generous
- ample
- abundant
- adequate
- plentiful
- sufficient
- satisfactory
- bountiful
- copious
- enough
- liberal
- fat
- rich
- tolerable
- prolific
- fertile
- fruitful
- plenteous
- lavish
- luxuriant
- extra
- thriving
- flourishing
- fecund
- bursting
- excess
- surplus
- proliferative
- teeming
- blooming
- swarming
4
as in small
small in degree a slim chance is still better than none Synonyms & Similar Words
- small
- off
- fragile
- slight
- minimal
- negligible
- tiny
- remote
- marginal
- outside
- frail
- little
- minor
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- large
- good
- great
- healthy
- substantial
- sizable
- significant
- distinct
- respectable
- sizeable
- significant
- considerable
- tidy
- largish
- goodly
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of slim are slender, slight, tenuous, and thin. While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness.
a slim volume of poetry
a slim chance
The words slender and slim are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.
the slender legs of a Sheraton chair
In some situations, the words slight and slim are roughly equivalent. However, slight implies smallness as well as thinness.
a slight build
The words tenuous and slim can be used in similar contexts, but tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.
a tenuous thread
While in some cases nearly identical to slim, thin implies comparatively little extension between surfaces or in diameter, or it may imply lack of substance, richness, or abundance.
thin wire
a thin soup