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Definition of littlenext
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little

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adverb

little

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noun

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
Looking back, Wendy said the injury did little to dampen the celebration itself. Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026 According to clinical literature, the human body lacks the functional gene (GULO) to synthesize ascorbic acid endogenously, meaning our vitamin C pool can be fully depleted within as little as one to three months on a deficient diet. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Adverb
Stocks are little changed this morning after the S & P 500 ’s record high yesterday. Jim Cramer, CNBC, 3 June 2026 Most employee one-on-ones are little more than surface-level check-ins—something that comes up on the calendar that both employer and employee want to check off and get over with. Christopher Kaufman, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Noun
Strong adults will let the littles (who really should not be skiing with their own poles yet in most cases) grab their pole. Moira McCarthy, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026 There are a host of other things available to entertain your littles, tweens, and teens around town, including The Butterfly Conservatory, Eco-Discovery Center, Shipwreck Museum, and Truman Waterfront Park’s splash pad. Ronny Maye, Essence, 1 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for little
Recent Examples of Synonyms for little
Adjective
  • The Strip’s biggest headliner shows and most of the other marquee resorts are a short walk or quick rideshare away, but many guests end up spending most of their time inside the Cosmopolitan orbit—between restaurants, pools, and bars.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Such a short intervening space after emancipation.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Adjective
  • The National Federation of Independent Business has warned that small businesses and consumers who rely on energy, rather than oil giants, will end up holding the bag.
    Yaël Ossowski, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026
  • But as funding from cap-and-invest and the climate bond dwindle, the state must increasingly turn to Cal Fire, which devotes only a small portion of its budget to mitigation work.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Adjective
  • Malaysian diver Lee Kian Lie told CNN that rescue divers were teaching the villagers how to dive out of the cave themselves, as the space is narrow and water levels are not coming down despite efforts to pump the water out.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
  • Delegates to the state conventions don’t mirror the broader electorate, and their candidate selections can often represent more narrow preference of the party base.
    Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • After a brief trip to the locker room, Brunson quickly returned to the bench and eventually re-entered the game.
    Alejandro Avila, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2026
  • The fact that no player had posted a tribute to the outgoing coach had raised some eyebrows until Van Dijk posted his own brief missive on social media.
    Simon Hughes, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Adjective
  • Despite its unnerving intimacy, which suggests either erotic pursuit or familiar proximity, the diminutive print calls to mind the photos of Saul Leiter, a figure surprisingly unmentioned in Ghirri’s essays despite his frequent fond allusions to American street photography.
    James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • One of the other creatures parked in Clark’s Backrooms nest is a diminutive entity in velvety red that strongly recalls a still, silent version of the Little Man From Another Place, a signature character from David Lynch’s Twin Peaks.
    Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 29 May 2026
Adverb
  • Thin ties dropped from the neckline of the bohemian-leaning silhouette, giving the dress a slightly undone finish against the high-shine black heels.
    Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 6 June 2026
  • Upgrading to the faster 150Mbps tier costs just slightly more, coming in at £22 ($29) a month on the 24-month plan or £32 ($43) on the flexible monthly option.
    David Phelan, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
Adverb
  • Thanks to the sheer size of the Grumeti Reserves and the limited development within, wildlife sightings tend to be excellent and rarely shared with other vehicles.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Lowbrow sources such as Sunday funnies, B movies, and advertisements are present but are more diffuse, rarely coalescing into obvious quotation.
    Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • In Cawker City, population 465, the twine ball is a symbol of community—a collective commitment to the bit.
    Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
  • A little bit of the all-or-nothing from him.
    David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Little.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/little. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

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