little 1 of 3

adjective

ˈli-tᵊl How to pronounce little (audio)
Definition of littlenext
1
as in short
having relatively little height there was a little hedge separating the two lawns

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in small
lacking importance there were just a few little details left to take care of

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in narrow
not broad or open in views or opinions little-minded people who dislike the fact that human society is always progressing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in brief
not lasting for a considerable time let's take a little pause to relax

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average the petting zoo has a little horse in addition to all of the goats and sheep

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

little

2 of 3

adverb

1
as in slightly
in a very small quantity or degree we had little more than we needed to survive in the wilderness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rarely
not often he's been studying very little for the bar exam

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

little

3 of 3

noun

as in bit
a very small amount there's just a little of the pie left

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word little distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of little are diminutive, miniature, minute, small, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

When is diminutive a more appropriate choice than little?

Although the words diminutive and little have much in common, diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

In what contexts can miniature take the place of little?

The synonyms miniature and little are sometimes interchangeable, but miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When would minute be a good substitute for little?

The words minute and little can be used in similar contexts, but minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How are the words small and little related?

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

a relatively small backyard

How do tiny and minute relate to one another, in the sense of little?

Tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of little
Adjective
There will be little shortage of traditional yacht-world indulgence, from a sprawling beach club and spa to helicopter transfers and a 230-foot shadow vessel laden with toys. — Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2026 With a base station that empties the vacuum's dustbin and washes and dries the mop, the Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai requires very little hands-on maintenance. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 7 Nov. 2026
Adverb
As the year opened, Lincoln was little known outside Illinois. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Oct. 2026 The home had been little touched since its construction in 1964, and the couple would be only the second owners. — Juliet Izon, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2026
Noun
Meanwhile, five pools including one just for littles—as well as complimentary non-motorized water sports—afford plenty of opportunities to stay refreshed. — Gina Kramer, USA Today, 25 July 2026 Harsher penalties do little to deter crime or prevent recidivism among young people. — Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for little
Recent Examples of Synonyms for little
  1. short
  2. small
  3. narrow
  4. brief
  5. diminutive
  6. slightly
  7. rarely
  8. bit
Adjective
  • The Rams still managed to rack up 513 yards of offense on the Broncos, including several big plays in which a Rams receiver was wide open, or several Bronco defenders missed tackles that turned a short gain into a big play.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Even short funding interruptions can alter a young scientist’s career.
    — Carole LaBonne, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of short
Adjective
  • Murphy said doctors diagnosed him with a small hemorrhagic stroke, which is a bleed in the brain.
    — Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
  • This design improves control over unwanted current leakage as transistors become smaller.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • FinFET transistors FinFETs are transistors with narrow silicon channels shaped like upright fins rather than flat structures.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Instead of insisting on playing through pressure, defenders cleared the ball when necessary, stayed compact and protected a narrow lead.
    — Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • There was a brief moment of hope last week when authorities tried to bring students back to classrooms.
    — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Kevin Carter | Getty Images After a brief bounce the week before, mortgage demand continued its slide last week, despite falling mortgage rates.
    — Diana Olick, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of brief
Adjective
  • In the front hall, guests might be entranced by the view up a floating staircase to a catwalk set against a sloping wall of glass, or to the mysterious circular skylight, diminutive and off center, like a wormhole.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The move toward more diminutive items was a departure for USM, but each nevertheless featured the brand’s signature metal frame.
    — Helena Madden, Robb Report, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of diminutive
Adverb
  • Stocks linked to the artificial intelligence build-out declined slightly on Wednesday in the wake of the election, but the selling intensified on Thursday as investors worried Democratic wins could have a real impact on data center construction.
    — Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The screen now has a 3,024-by-1,986-pixel resolution, which is slightly higher vertically than before.
    — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of slightly
Adverb
  • Crossword puzzles may include verbs or adjectives that one rarely has occasion to see or use elsewhere.
    — Sam Corbin, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The results of message polls are rarely shared publicly, the experts said.
    — Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of rarely
Noun
  • Jama took to social media to share a goodbye message with some of her best bits from the ITV reality series.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2026
  • But, unfortunately, got a little bit tangled up and fell awkward.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of bit

Phrases Containing little

Browse Nearby Words

litters
little
little bitty
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Little.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/little. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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