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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

little

3 of 3

noun

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

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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 is little scientific debate that dietary protein is critical to good health. — Linda M. Boland, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026 Heavy workloads, long hours, unrealistic expectations, little control over one's schedule and a lack of recognition or support can all contribute. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026
Adverb
The financing There’s been very little disclosed about how this deal is being financed. — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 13 Aug. 2026 Chan Gin Kai, founder and CEO of Silver Media Group, said Asia holds some of the richest histories, cultures and mythologies in the world, but many of these stories remain little known outside their home countries. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
Even the littles help out with age-appropriate tasks. — Melissa Willets, Parents, 18 June 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 rally was fueled partly by a short squeeze, with more than $4 billion in bearish crypto positions liquidated as prices rose.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The crowd points their phones at the pair, who are alternating between short dances, rhythmic movements, and striking poses.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of short
Adjective
  • Instead, contestants compete for crowd reaction and are rewarded with attention and, in some cases, small cash prizes.
    — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Mix the cornstarch with the cold water in a small bowl to make a smooth slurry.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • Built in 1884 to serve the area’s booming silver mines, the narrow-gauge railroad climbs nearly 600 feet in just two miles, crossing the famous Devil’s Gate High Bridge before reaching the historic mining town of Silver Plume.
    — Jocelyn Rowley, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Those gains in a high-turnout presidential year, combined with the very narrow final margin — after a recount — made the decision simple for Bohannan to sign up a third time.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • Deputies and police officers already at the courthouse pursued Guerrero during a brief foot chase and captured him, officials said.
    — Richard Ramos, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Men’s domestic cricket in Pakistan, aside from a brief spell from 2019 to 2023 while former Test captain Imran Khan was the country’s prime minister and instigated change, is divided between teams from regions and departments.
    — Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of brief
Adjective
  • The diminutive Taiwanese market-slash-lunch counter Taiwan Best Mart’s cold sesame noodles ($13) are a refreshing tangle of cucumbers, carrots, cilantro, scallions, sesame seeds, flour noodles and the market’s house sesame sauce.
    — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • There’s even a diminutive bowl from the Roman Empire that dates back 2,000 years.
    — Carolanne Griffith Roberts, Southern Living, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminutive
Adverb
  • The boy was spotted sitting on his own at a hut about 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) above sea level – slightly more than halfway up the country’s tallest mountain – by a worker on Thursday, according to CNN’s affiliate TV Asahi.
    — Chris Lau, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The kitchen itself, though, feels fairly unused—one tap wasn’t working, the cutlery was slightly rusty, and the whole setup had a ramshackle quality.
    — Megan Rose Murray, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of slightly
Adverb
  • After four seasons of fits and starts with the offense built around tight ends or the running game but rarely the receiver room, maybe the Irish are in position for something more.
    — Pete Sampson, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • They were being imposed under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, a Great Depression-era law that has rarely, if ever, been invoked and has been neglected for decades.
    — Lim Hui Jie,Kevin Breuninger,Ashlee Trujillo, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of rarely
Noun
  • Each piece is a little bit of the earth itself, molded to a shape that fits easily in the hand, baked to achieve permanence and then stacked, one atop another, to form a wall that can enclose, shelter and delight us.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Then there’s Lew, who was eased into camp a little bit at a time, moving from a few reps to a few series to a day with the first team and now returning to start at center.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of bit

Phrases Containing little

Browse Nearby Words

litters
little
little bitty
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Cite this Entry

“Little.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/little. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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