tiny

adjective

ti·​ny ˈtī-nē 

tinier; tiniest

: very small or diminutive : minute

tinily

ˈtī-nə-lē 

adverb

tininess

ˈtī-nē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of tiny

• minuscule
• microscopic
• miniature
• small

Choose the Right Synonym for tiny

small, little, diminutive, minute, tiny, miniature mean noticeably below average in size.

small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

a relatively small backyard

little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

Examples of tiny in a Sentence

The computer chips were tiny.

He's from a tiny town that you've probably never heard of.

There's just one tiny little problem.

Aren't you even a tiny bit scared?

Recent Examples on the Web

Here’s the one tiny kitchen habit that can make both the day and the cleanup a whole lot easier. —Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2025

And while the Victorian architecture of San Francisco may be better known, in my humble opinion, the tiny town of Ferndale has the big city beat. —Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 22 Nov. 2025

Scientists previously developed a technique called STrIPS to continuously produce tiny particles, fibers, and films with sponge-like internal structures. —Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 22 Nov. 2025

Scientists found that these tiny structural flaws are actually the key to initiating complex chemical processes in ice bathed in UV light. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English tine

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tiny

• tiny house

Rhymes for tiny

• briny
• piney
• shiny
• spiny
• consignee
• sunshiny

Kids Definition

tiny

adjective

ti·​ny ˈtī-nē 

tinier; tiniest

: very small : minute

tininess noun