slighted: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, literary
Quick answer
What does “slighted” mean?
To treat someone with disrespect, indifference, or a lack of proper attention.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To treat someone with disrespect, indifference, or a lack of proper attention; to feel offended because of such treatment.
To be overlooked, snubbed, or deliberately ignored in a way that causes hurt feelings; to perceive oneself as having been treated as unimportant or insignificant.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more common in British literary and formal contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries a connotation of wounded pride and subtle, often intentional, neglect.
Frequency
Low-frequency word in both dialects, used more in written English than in casual speech.
Grammar
How to Use “slighted” in a Sentence
<SUBJECT> slighted <OBJECT><OBJECT> felt slighted (by <AGENT>)<SUBJECT> was slighted (by <AGENT>)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “slighted” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She felt he had slighted her by not offering her a seat.
- The manager slighted several senior staff by consulting only juniors.
American English
- He was slighted when they didn't invite him to the strategy meeting.
- The author slighted her early influences in the interview.
adjective
British English
- The slighted diplomat made his displeasure known.
- A slighted look passed over her face.
American English
- He had the air of a slighted artist.
- She gave a slighted response to the proposal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to describe professional disrespect, e.g., being overlooked for promotion or excluded from key meetings.
Academic
Appears in literary criticism, history, and sociology to describe social snubs or perceived insults to status.
Everyday
Used when someone feels their efforts were unappreciated or they were deliberately ignored at a social gathering.
Technical
Not typically used in technical domains.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “slighted”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “slighted”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “slighted”
- Using 'slighted' to mean 'made smaller' or 'made lighter in weight'.
- Confusing 'I felt slight' (adj.) with 'I felt slighted' (verb).
- Overusing in casual contexts where 'ignored' or 'snubbed' is more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a mid to low-frequency word, more common in formal writing, literature, and specific contexts discussing social interactions and emotions.
'Ignored' is neutral, meaning simply not noticed. 'Snubbed' is a deliberate, obvious act of rejection. 'Slighted' sits between them, often implying a subtle or perceived disrespect that causes personal offense, focusing on the feeling of the recipient.
Yes, the past participle can function as an adjective, e.g., 'a slighted employee', describing someone who has been treated with disrespect.
Yes, it is grammatically correct. It means 'I treated him with disrespect or indifference.' However, this active form ('I slighted') is less common than the passive/emotional form ('He felt slighted').
To treat someone with disrespect, indifference, or a lack of proper attention.
Slighted is usually formal, literary in register.
Slighted: in British English it is pronounced /ˈslaɪtɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈslaɪt̬ɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to take it as a slight”
- “to suffer a slight”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of SLIGHT + ED. A 'slight' is a small insult; 'slighted' means you have been 'insulted'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL INJURY IS PHYSICAL INJURY (wounded pride, hurt feelings).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'slighted' used correctly?