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

Two tiny satellites have joined an orbital fleet designed to measure greenhouse gas emissions from hundreds of miles above Earth. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Oct. 2026

Processing tiny payments can cost more than the payments themselves. — Mark Lewyn, Hartford Courant, 2 Oct. 2026

But in observing the humble brine shrimp, scientists at the University of Pittsburgh realized that — with just a tiny adjustment — the flow of energy could be reversed. — Stephen Ornes, Quanta Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026

For a tiny home for two there is a lot going on, and yet the home feels unified, easy to navigate, and nowhere near cramped, regardless of the many fine antiques that decorate the space. — Camille Okhio, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026

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
• sunshiny

Kids Definition

tiny

adjective

ti·​ny ˈtī-nē 

tinier; tiniest

: very small : minute

tininess noun