Slim vs. Thick — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 16, 2024
Slim refers to a slender and often more delicate body build, while thick describes a fuller, more robust physical form.
Difference Between Slim and Thick
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Slim typically implies a narrower, leaner physical appearance with less body mass, while thick suggests a more substantial, often muscular or curvier body type.
In fashion, slim-fit clothing is designed to fit closely to the body to emphasize a slim physique, whereas thick materials or designs aim to provide warmth and coverage, often preferred in colder climates.
When describing objects, 'slim' often denotes something with minimal thickness, such as a slim phone or book, while 'thick' can refer to objects that are broad or dense, like a thick blanket or a thick slice of bread.
In terms of aesthetic and cultural perceptions, slimness is often associated with elegance and fitness, whereas thickness can convey a sense of strength and vitality.
In discussions about health, being overly slim can raise concerns about undernourishment or frailty, while being excessively thick might be viewed in the context of potential obesity or robust health.
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Comparison Chart
Physical Build
Narrow and lean
Broad and robust
Fashion Preference
Slim-fit clothing
Loose, heavier clothing
Object Description
Minimal thickness (e.g., slim phone)
Substantial breadth or density (e.g., thick book)
Cultural Perception
Often seen as elegant and fit
Seen as strong and lively
Health Connotation
Can suggest undernourishment or frailty
Might suggest robust health or obesity
Compare with Definitions
Slim
Slightly built or delicate.
The chair's slim design makes it perfect for small spaces.
Thick
Large in dimension or volume.
He cut a thick slice of cake for himself.
Slim
Narrow in width or thickness.
He prefers a slim tie for formal events.
Thick
Heavy or bulky in consistency.
She stirred the thick stew before serving.
Slim
Minimalist or not extensive.
She gave a slim overview of the report.
Thick
Dense or closely packed together.
The forest was thick with underbrush.
Slim
Small in amount or probability.
There's a slim chance of rain today.
Thick
Not sharp or penetrating in intellect.
The thick book was difficult to understand.
Slim
Having little body fat or flesh.
The slim actress was admired for her fitness.
Thick
Impenetrable or opaque in texture.
The thick curtains blocked out all sunlight.
Slim
(of a person or their build) gracefully thin; slender
Her slim figure
The girls were tall and slim
Thick
With opposite sides or surfaces that are far or relatively far apart
The walls are 5 feet thick
Thick slices of bread
Thick metal cables
Slim
(of something abstract, especially a chance or margin) very small
There was just a slim chance of success
A slim majority of sixteen
Thick
Made up of a large number of things or people close together
The road winds through thick forest
His hair was long and thick
Slim
Crafty, sly, or unscrupulous.
Thick
(of a liquid or a semi-liquid substance) relatively firm in consistency; not flowing freely
Thick mud
Slim
Make oneself thinner, especially by dieting
If he's overweight, he should slim
Thick
Of low intelligence; stupid
He's a bit thick
Slim
A course or period of slimming
A sponsored slim
Thick
(of a voice) not clear or distinct; hoarse or husky
Guy's voice was thick with desire
A snarling thick voice
Slim
A term used in parts of Africa to refer to AIDS.
Thick
Having a very close, friendly relationship
He's very thick with the new master
Slim
Small in girth or thickness in proportion to height or length; slender.
Thick
The most active or crowded part of something
We were in the thick of the battle
Slim
Small in quantity or amount; meager
Slim chances of success.
Thick
In or with deep, dense, or heavy mass
Bread spread thick with butter
Slim
To become or make slim.
Thick
Relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite, usually in the smallest solid dimension; not thin
A thick board.
Slim
To lose or cause to lose weight, as by dieting or exercise.
Thick
Measuring a specified number of units in this dimension
Two inches thick.
Slim
Slender, thin.
Thick
Heavy in form, build, or stature; thickset
A thick neck.
Slim
(of a person or a person's build) Slender in an attractive way.
Movie stars are usually slim, attractive, and young.
Thick
Having component parts in a close, crowded state or arrangement; dense
A thick forest.
Slim
Designed to make the wearer appear slim.
Thick
Having or suggesting a heavy or viscous consistency
Thick tomato sauce.
Slim
(of an object) Long and narrow.
Thick
Having a great number; abounding
A room thick with flies.
Slim
(of a workforce) Of a reduced size, with the intent of being more efficient.
Thick
Impenetrable by the eyes
A thick fog.
Slim
(of something abstract like a chance or margin) Very small, tiny.
I'm afraid your chances are quite slim.
Thick
Hard to hear or understand, as from being husky or slurred
Thick speech.
Slim
Bad, of questionable quality; not strongly built, flimsy.
Thick
Very noticeable; pronounced
Has a thick accent.
Slim
Sly, crafty.
Thick
(Informal) Lacking mental agility; stupid.
Slim
A type of cigarette substantially longer and thinner than normal cigarettes.
I only smoke slims.
Thick
(Informal) Very friendly; intimate
Thick friends.
Slim
A potato farl.
Thick
(Informal) Going beyond what is tolerable; excessive.
Slim
AIDS, or the chronic wasting associated with its later stages.
Thick
In a thick manner; deeply or heavily
Seashells lay thick on the beach.
Slim
Cocaine.
Thick
In a close, compact state or arrangement; densely
Dozens of braids hung thick from the back of her head.
Slim
(intransitive) To lose weight in order to achieve slimness.
Thick
So as to be thick; thickly
Slice the bread thick for the best French toast.
Slim
(transitive) To make slimmer; to reduce in size.
Thick
The thickest part.
Slim
Worthless; bad.
Thick
The most active or intense part
In the thick of the fighting.
Slim
Weak; slight; unsubstantial; poor; as, a slim argument.
Thick
Relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite in its smallest solid dimension.
Slim
Of small diameter or thickness in proportion to the height or length; slender; as, a slim person; a slim tree.
Thick
Measuring a certain number of units in this dimension.
I want some planks that are two inches thick.
Slim
Take off weight
Thick
Heavy in build; thickset.
He had such a thick neck that he had to turn his body to look to the side.
Slim
Being of delicate or slender build;
She was slender as a willow shoot is slender
A slim girl with straight blonde hair
Watched her slight figure cross the street
Thick
Densely crowded or packed.
We walked through thick undergrowth.
Slim
Small in quantity;
Slender wages
A slim chance of winning
A small surplus
Thick
Having a viscous consistency.
My mum’s gravy was thick but at least it moved about.
Thick
Abounding in number.
The room was thick with reporters.
Thick
Impenetrable to sight.
We drove through thick fog.
Thick
(Of an accent) Prominent, strong.
Thick
Greatly evocative of one's nationality or place of origin.
He answered me in his characteristically thick Creole patois.
Thick
Difficult to understand, or poorly articulated.
We had difficulty understanding him with his thick accent.
Thick
(informal) Stupid.
He was as thick as two short planks.
Thick
(informal) Friendly or intimate.
They were as thick as thieves.
Thick
Deep, intense, or profound.
Thick darkness.
Thick
(academic) Detailed and expansive; substantive.
Thick
Troublesome; unreasonable
Thick
Curvy and voluptuous, and especially having large hips.
Thick
In a thick manner.
Snow lay thick on the ground.
Thick
Frequently or numerously.
The arrows flew thick and fast around us.
Thick
The thickest, or most active or intense, part of something.
It was mayhem in the thick of battle.
Thick
A thicket.
Thick
(slang) A stupid person; a fool.
Thick
To thicken.
Thick
Measuring in the third dimension other than length and breadth, or in general dimension other than length; - said of a solid body; as, a timber seven inches thick.
Were it as thick as is a branched oak.
My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
Thick
Having more depth or extent from one surface to its opposite than usual; not thin or slender; as, a thick plank; thick cloth; thick paper; thick neck.
Thick
Dense; not thin; inspissated; as, thick vapors. Also used figuratively; as, thick darkness.
Make the gruel thick and slab.
Thick
Not transparent or clear; hence, turbid, muddy, or misty; as, the water of a river is apt to be thick after a rain.
Thick
Abundant, close, or crowded in space; closely set; following in quick succession; frequently recurring.
The people were gathered thick together.
Black was the forest; thick with beech it stood.
Thick
Not having due distinction of syllables, or good articulation; indistinct; as, a thick utterance.
Thick
Deep; profound; as, thick sleep.
Thick
Dull; not quick; as, thick of fearing.
His dimensions to any thick sight were invincible.
Thick
Intimate; very friendly; familiar.
We have been thick ever since.
Thick
The thickest part, or the time when anything is thickest.
In the thick of the dust and smoke.
Thick
A thicket; as, gloomy thicks.
Through the thick they heard one rudely rush.
He through a little window cast his sightThrough thick of bars, that gave a scanty light.
Through thick and thin she followed him.
He became the panegyrist, through thick and thin, of a military frenzy.
Thick
Frequently; fast; quick.
Thick
Closely; as, a plat of ground thick sown.
Thick
To a great depth, or to a greater depth than usual; as, land covered thick with manure.
Thick
The location of something surrounded by other things;
In the midst of the crowd
Thick
Not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions;
An inch thick
A thick board
A thick sandwich
Spread a thick layer of butter
Thick coating of dust
Thick warm blankets
Thick
Closely crowded together;
A compact shopping center
A dense population
Thick crowds
Thick
Relatively dense in consistency;
Thick cream
Thick soup
Thick smoke
Thick fog
Thick
Spoken as if with a thick tongue;
The thick speech of a drunkard
His words were slurred
Thick
Wide from side to side;
A heavy black mark
Thick
Hard to pass through because of dense growth;
Dense vegetation
Thick woods
Thick
(of darkness) very intense;
Thick night
Thick darkness
A face in deep shadow
Deep night
Thick
Abundant;
A thick head of hair
Thick
Heavy and compact in form or stature;
A wrestler of compact build
He was tall and heavyset
Stocky legs
A thick middle-aged man
A thickset young man
Thick
(used informally) associated on close terms;
A close friend
The bartender was chummy with the regular customers
The two were thick as thieves for months
Thick
Used informally
Thick
Abundantly covered or filled;
The top was thick with dust
Thick
With a thick consistency;
The blood was flowing thick
Thick
In quick succession;
Misfortunes come fast and thick
Common Curiosities
What types of sports or activities are suited for slim individuals?
Slim individuals may excel in sports that require agility and endurance, such as running or gymnastics.
Are there health risks associated with being too thick?
Excessive thickness, particularly if it results from high body fat, can increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems.
Can furniture be described using the terms slim and thick?
Yes, furniture design can be described as slim, like a slim desk, or thick, such as a thick, cushioned sofa.
What are common health issues associated with being too slim?
Being overly slim can lead to health issues like malnutrition, osteoporosis, and a weakened immune system.
Is there a gender preference for being slim or thick in fashion?
Fashion preferences can vary by gender; for instance, slim fits are popular in menswear, whereas women's fashion often celebrates both slim and thick body types.
What kind of diet helps maintain a healthy thick physique?
A diet for a healthy thick physique might focus on higher caloric intake with a good balance of protein, fats, and carbohydrates.
How do slim and thick differ in terms of fashion aesthetics?
Slim aesthetics in fashion often emphasize sleek, form-fitting lines, while thick aesthetics might focus on bold, voluminous shapes.
What role does genetics play in determining if someone is slim or thick?
Genetics significantly influence body type, determining one's predisposition to being slim or thick.
How do slim and thick descriptions apply to technological devices?
Technological devices such as smartphones and laptops are often marketed as slim, which is valued for portability, whereas thicker devices might emphasize durability or enhanced features.
What diet is suitable for maintaining a slim physique?
A diet for maintaining a slim physique typically includes balanced portions of lean proteins, whole grains, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.
What are the psychological impacts of being labeled as slim or thick?
Being labeled as slim or thick can affect self-esteem and body image, potentially leading to issues like body dysmorphia or eating disorders.
How is thickness perceived in different parts of the world?
Perceptions of thickness vary globally; in some cultures, it's seen as a sign of health and prosperity, while in others, slimness is more idealized.
What fabric types are associated with slim and thick clothing?
Slim clothing often uses lightweight, closely-woven fabrics like silk or fine cotton, whereas thick clothing might use heavy wool or denim.
How do slim and thick relate to animal breeds?
In animals, breeds can be described as slim or thick based on their typical body structures, such as slim greyhounds versus thick bulldogs.
How can architecture incorporate slim and thick designs?
Architectural designs might feature slim elements like thin columns or thick features like robust walls for different aesthetic and structural purposes.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
