Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

slighten

/ˈslaɪ.tən/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: slight-en
IPA: /ˈslaɪ.tən/

12

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To make or become slight; make or become less pronounced, less noticeable, or less obvious.

verb

Transitive verb

verb

To level out, smooth, or flatten.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"His smile slightened as if he knew they talked of him."
"With tissue I softened my rouge, slightened my lipstick; studying my redesigns in my green compact's mirror I marveled, seeing yet another strange face."
"[…] as God forbid that anyone should hint a slightening word of what our sons and brothers are doing just now, and doing for us!"
"They may take ill or feel slightened for not having been approached directly."
"It is an odious wisdom to blaspheme, / Much more to slighten, or deny their powers"
"to slighten the sheets out"

Etymology

From slight + -en. Related to German schlichten (“to smoothen”). More at slight.

Word Breakdown

Suffix: slight

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

slightens (present, singular) slightening (participle, present) slightened (participle, past) slightened (past)

Questions

How do you pronounce slighten?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈslaɪ.tən/.
What does slighten mean?: To make or become slight; make or become less pronounced, less noticeable, or less obvious.
Where does slighten come from?: From slight + -en. Related to German schlichten (“to smoothen”). More at slight.

How to pronounce slighten

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “slighten”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈslaɪ.tən/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “slighten”.
Repeat and practice — Say “slighten” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.