slight

comparative slighter · superlative slightest

1. Minor; small in amount

   The forecast calls for a slight warming trend in the coming days, with sunny skies and daytime temperatures reaching the midteens on Sunday and Monday, when the men will hit the snowboard course.

   2022 February 4, John Branch, “U.S. snowboarder Jamie Anderson qualifies for the slopestyle final.”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 29 Nov 2022

   Synonyms: ignorable, meaningless, negligible, tiny, base, contemptible, floccinaucinihilipilificatious, foolish

   1. Gentle or weak, not aggressive or powerful.

      a slight effort

      5 more examples

      give it a slight kick

      a slight hint of cinnamon

      a slight (i.e. not convincing) argument

      Mother very rightly resented the slightest hint of condescension. She considered that the exclusiveness of Peter's circle was due not to its distinction, but to the fact that it was an inner Babylon of prodigality and whoredom,[…].

      1921, Ben Travers, chapter 2, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC

      Even though there is slight quality variation between the long and short versions of Arabic vowels, the variation is rarely noticeable even by some phoneticians; hence, it does not amount to a source of even phonetic accent except for those learners of Arabic whose language has a strictly centrifugal vowel system such as Spanish, Italian, Tagalog, among others.

      2014, Edward Y. Odisho, “Some Primary Sources of Accent Generation in the Pronunciation of Arabic by Native Speakers of English”, in Mediterranean Language Review, volume 21, →DOI, page 100 of 91–104

      Synonyms: ignorable, meaningless, negligible, tiny, base, contemptible, floccinaucinihilipilificatious, foolish

   2. Not thorough; superficial.

      make a slight examination

      Synonyms: ignorable, meaningless, negligible, tiny, base, contemptible, floccinaucinihilipilificatious, foolish

   3. Trifling; unimportant; insignificant.

      a slight pain

      3 more examples

      we made a slight mistake

      Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds.

      1741, John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education & of the Conduct of the Understanding

      Slight is the subject, but not so the praise.

      1714, Alexander Pope, “The Rape of the Lock”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, →OCLC, canto I

      Synonyms: ignorable, meaningless, negligible, tiny, base, contemptible, floccinaucinihilipilificatious, foolish

   4. archaicrareNot far away in space or time.

      in the slight future

      Synonyms: ignorable, meaningless, negligible, tiny, base, contemptible, floccinaucinihilipilificatious, foolish

2. Of slender build.

   a slight but graceful woman

   2 more examples

   his own figure, which was formerly so slight

   1822, Sir Walter Scott, Peveril of the Peak

   But now, ten years later, after his recent shipwreck, he cannot compete as a runner, though he can outthrow the slighter Phaeacians with the heaviest discus.

   2002, Eva Brann, Homeric Moments, page 48

   Synonyms: lithe, svelte, willowy, gaunt, gracile, lank, lean, leansome

3. regionalEven, smooth or level.

   A slight stone

   Synonyms: flat, glassy, slick, downy, even, flat, frictionless, lanate

4. especiallyStill; with little or no movement on the surface.

   The sea was slight and calm

5. obsoleteFoolish; silly; not intellectual.

   But no beast ever was so slight, For man, as for his god, to fight; They have more wit, alas! and know Themselves and us better than so.

   1859, Samuel Butler, Hudibras, Canto 1, lines 781-784

   Synonyms: daft, fatuous, soft in the head, asinine, balmy, barmy, bedaft, loony

6. obsoleteregionalBad, of poor quality.

   1889 (first published), George Washington, Writings we frequently have slight Goods and sometimes old and unsaleable Articles

   Synonyms: flimsy, lousy, shoddy, ass, bad, base, below par, bottom-shelf

7. datedSlighting; treating with disdain.

   This slight way of treating both his book and his ancestors nettled little Puddock – who never himself took a liberty, and expected similar treatment – but he knew Sturk, the nature of the beast, and he only bowed grandly […]

   1863, Sheridan Le Fanu, The House by the Churchyard

   Synonyms: contemptuous, disdainful, scornful, belittling, blistering, contemptuous, contumelious, deprecative

present singular third person slights · participle present slighting · participle past slighted · past slighted

1. transitiveTo treat as unimportant or not worthy of attention; to make light of.

   the wretch who slights the bounty of the skies

   1782, William Cowper, Truth

   Synonyms: take lightly

2. transitiveTo give lesser weight or importance to.

   Incontiguously (accent on tig; the rest of the syllables slighted) means in an incontiguous manner.

   1915, Josephine Turck Baker, Correct English, volumes 16-17, page 182

   Synonyms: belittle, bagatellize, banalize, belittle, cut down, de-emphasize, denigrate, degrade · Antonyms: respect, value, esteem

3. transitiveTo treat (someone or something) with disdain or neglect, usually out of prejudice, hatred, or jealousy; to ignore disrespectfully; to skimp on one's duties toward.

   Though true of heart, she was somewhat of a coquette in manner; and I was jealous as a Turk. She slighted me in a thousand ways, yet would never acknowledge herself to be in the wrong. She would drive me mad with anger, and then force me to beg her pardon.

   1833, Mary Shelley, The Mortal Immortal

   Synonyms: contemn, despise, contemn, despect, disrespect, despise, disdain, disesteem · Antonyms: respect, honor, esteem, honor, idolize, lay store by, look up to, prize

4. intransitiveTo act negligently or carelessly.
5. transitivegovernmentTo render no longer defensible by full or partial demolition.

   When the parliament had finished the war , they reduced and slighted most of the inland garrison

   1702–1704, Edward [Hyde, 1st] Earl of Clarendon, (please specify |book=I to XVI), in The History of the Rebellion and Civil Wars in England, Begun in the Year 1641. […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed at the [Sheldonian] Theater

6. obsoletetransitiveTo make even or level.

   After your ground is sowne and harrowed, you shall then clotte it, sleight it, and smooth it.

   1620, Gervase Markham, Farwell to Hvsbandry

   Synonyms: flatten, level

7. transitiveTo throw heedlessly.

   The rogue slighted me into the river.

   c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v]

   Synonyms: bung, hurl, soss, bung, cast, chuck, chunk, cook

plural slights

1. The act of ignoring or snubbing; a deliberate act of neglect or discourtesy.

   But you, you're not allowed You're uninvited An unfortunate slight

   1997, Alanis Morissette, “Uninvited”, performed by Alanis Morissette

   1 more example

   Never use a slighting expression to her, even in jest; for slights in jest, after frequent bandyings, are apt to end in angry earnest.

   1793, Benjamin Franklin, The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

   Synonyms: ignoring, neglect, belittlement · Antonyms: respect

2. obsoleteSleight.

   For till that stownd could never wight him harme, By subtilty, nor slight, nor might, nor mighty charme.

   1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto XXXVI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

plural Slights

1. A surname from Middle English.