Skip to main content
slenderness

slenderness

5.4
A small amount that is not enough
  • noun
  • /ˈslɛndərnəs/
translation icon : insuficiencia
  • The slenderness of the evidence was not enough to convict him.

Examples

  • Given the slenderness of my resources, I had to decline the trip.

  • We were worried about the slenderness of our chances of success.

  • Her slenderness was admired by many.

  • The slenderness of the tree trunk amazed the hikers.

  • Given the slenderness of my resources, I had to decline the trip.

  • The slenderness of the evidence was not enough to convict him.

  • We were worried about the slenderness of our chances of success.

Synonyms

slightness
vsslenderness
1 6.1

A thin, small body that looks weak

stresses general insufficiency rather than physical smallness or build
smallness
vsslenderness
1 3.7

The state of having little energy or force

highlights insufficiency in amount or quality rather than low force
tininess
vsslenderness
1 4.3

The condition of being very small

concerns insufficiency or inadequacy rather than extreme physical smallness
tenuousness
vsslenderness
8.1

A weak or slight state often about ideas and relationships

is more about general insufficiency than clear absence of substance
littleness
vsslenderness
5.9

A state of being small in size

focuses on insufficiency rather than mere small physical size
petiteness
vsslenderness
5.6

A state of being very small

is about lacking adequacy rather than referring only to small body size
diminutiveness
vsslenderness
9.1

The state of being very small in size

denotes insufficiency in amount instead of extreme smallness or extent

Antonyms

91 3.3

A large amount of something, more than you need

20 5.9

Enough of something for a particular purpose

How Scarce

scarcity
29 4.4
shortage
253 2.7
slenderness
5.4

Surface Forms

slenderness singular
slendernesses plural

Morphology

slenderness = slender (semi-transparent) = slender + ness

Built from 'slender' but the sense 'slight/insufficient' is a metaphorical or extended meaning that is not fully predictable from the base for all learners.

Etymology

Slenderness comes from the adjective slender plus the suffix -ness, meaning 'state' or 'quality'. Think of something so thin there is very little of it; 'slenderness' can mean a small or weak amount, which is why we say 'the slenderness of the evidence' when the proof is not enough.