slim but powerful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slim but powerful" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is compact or slender in size yet has significant strength or capability. Example: "The new smartphone is slim but powerful, making it easy to carry while still offering top-notch performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

That, in a nutshell, is the thesis of this slim but powerful book.

The New York Times - Books

The subject of this slim but powerful meditation is Yucca Mountain in Nevada, long the proposed site for storage of America's nuclear waste.

The New York Times - Books

The subject of D'Agata's slim but powerful meditation is Yucca Mountain in Nevada, long the proposed site for storage of America's nuclear waste.

The New York Times

The mountain that John D'Agata is ostensibly concerned with in his slim but powerful new book, "About a Mountain," is Yucca Mountain, located approximately 100 miles north of Las Vegas.

The New York Times - Books

In the biography category, Claire Tomalin with her mighty hardback, Samuel Pepys: The Unequalled Self; over the net, swinging for best novel, her husband Michael Frayn's slim but powerful volume, Spies.

The Guardian - Books

Barbara Bleiman and book group, London (Crouch End) My book group year has oscillated between predictable choices (Brick Lane, Oryx and Crake, Unless) and more obscure but perhaps better discussion-generators like Kressman Taylor's slim but powerful wartime narrative, Address Unknown, letters between a Jewish emigre in New York and his German 'friend'friend

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The Harvard optics expert James G. Baker devises a camera small and light enough to ride on the slim, featherweight plane but powerful enough to detect strategic weapons from 70,000 feet.

The New York Times - Books

"They were so articulate and comfortable in themselves, a range of physiques but all very feminine: Kath Grainger is tall and strong, Jess Ennis packs her strength into a slim frame, Nicola Adams is small but powerful.

BBC

Looking for a slim, powerful, but still cheap notebook?

TechCrunch

A new entry is the T-Mobile Dash, a phone slim enough to slip into a vest pocket or evening purse but powerful enough to put in a full day's work.

The New York Times - Tech

While smartphones have gotten progressively more slim and powerful, battery life has struggled to keep up.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slim but powerful" to describe items where the small size is a surprising contrast to its capabilities. For example, a "slim but powerful" laptop is easy to carry yet offers high performance.

Common error

Avoid using "slim but powerful" repetitively in your writing. While effective, overuse can make your writing sound cliché. Instead, vary your descriptions with alternatives like "compact yet potent" or "lightweight but strong" to maintain reader interest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slim but powerful" functions as a descriptive compound adjective. It combines two contrasting adjectives to emphasize a surprising quality in something, highlighting that despite being small or slender ("slim"), it possesses significant strength or capability ("powerful"). Ludwig AI confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slim but powerful" is a descriptive compound adjective used to highlight a surprising contrast between size and capability. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used in news and media, and scientific contexts, serving to convey admiration or promote something unexpectedly effective. While it is considered appropriate in formal writing, varying your descriptions with alternatives like "compact yet potent" or "small but mighty" can prevent overuse and maintain reader engagement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compact yet potent

Replaces "slim" with "compact" and "powerful" with "potent", focusing on the size and effectiveness.

small but mighty

Uses more common synonyms "small" and "mighty" for a broader audience.

lightweight but strong

Emphasizes the contrast in physical attributes, focusing on weight versus strength.

concise yet effective

Shifts the focus to brevity and results, suitable for describing arguments or plans.

trim but robust

Uses "trim" and "robust" to indicate elegance combined with durability.

sleek but vigorous

Highlights design and energy.

slight but forceful

Conveys an unassuming appearance coupled with great impact.

lean but muscular

Applies primarily to physical descriptions, implying efficiency and strength.

understated but influential

Focuses on hidden power.

modest yet dominant

Indicates humility alongside control.

FAQs

What does "slim but powerful" mean?

The phrase "slim but powerful" describes something that is small or compact in size, but possesses a surprising amount of strength, capability, or influence.

What can I say instead of "slim but powerful"?

You can use alternatives like "compact yet potent", "small but mighty", or "lightweight but strong" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "slim but powerful" in formal writing?

Yes, "slim but powerful" is appropriate in formal writing, especially when you want to emphasize a contrast between size and capability. However, ensure that the context supports the use of such a descriptive phrase.

How to use "slim but powerful" in a sentence?

You can use "slim but powerful" to describe objects or concepts. For example: "The new smartphone is slim but powerful, making it easy to carry yet offering top-notch performance."