Ask Difference

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.
Slim vs. Thick — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Slim and Thick

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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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Author Spotlight

Written by
Urooj Arif
Urooj 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.
Tayyaba 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.

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