slightness

noun

Definition of slightnessnext
1
as in smallness
the quality or state of being little in size the old photograph shows a man whose slightness of build seems at variance with his reputation as a robust outdoorsman

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lightness
the state or quality of having little weight his slightness will serve him well if he ever decides to become a jockey

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in negligibility
the quality or state of being unimportant most moviegoers were not in the least bothered by the slightness of the plot—they were there for the special effects in any event

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slightness
  1. smallness
  2. lightness
  3. fineness
Noun
  • But there’s an element of the hotel's smallness that has an environmental benefit that almost no one has talked about.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
  • The designer said she was inspired by the smallness of the human compared to the universe’s vastness.
    — Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
Definition of smallness
Noun
  • There was a sort of lightness to the mood of a team that was still trying to absorb the news.
    — Paul Tenorio, New York Times, 5 July 2026
  • Hughes suggests a dusty pink or light beige to lift and soften the richness of the floor, while Alonso notes that cooler neutrals can offer a nice contrast, adding some lightness to the room.
    — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026
Definition of lightness
Noun
  • My matzo balls took twice as long to cook according to her fineness in the video.
    — Molly Baz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Mar. 2026
  • The term plant texture refers to the fineness or coarseness, roughness or smoothness, heaviness or lightness of a particular plant.
    — David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
Definition of fineness
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

slightly
slightness
slights
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slightness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slightness. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All