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

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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

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

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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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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
We are introduced to Celeste at target practice with her impressive arsenal of firearms, which get suspiciously little play once the action finally arrives. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026 Researchers see benefit-sharing provisions as too costly; developing countries see them as offering too little. — Anna Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026
Adverb
While the statements differed little from the chairman's prior remarks on inflation, markets took them as hawkish on rates and quickly priced in a strong possibility for a hike at the upcoming meeting. — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 During her early decades in Detroit, Powell was little known beyond the city. — Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 1 Sep. 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 Big Ten enters this week largely unscathed after Week 1, with 15 of its teams winning in regulation, another needing assistance from clock operators and two falling considerably short.
    — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The Late Show won for writing, short form comedy, picture editing, technical direction and camerawork, and lighting design — all a fond farewell to the show.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of short
Adjective
  • Then handle the smaller responsibilities competing for your attention.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Its compact permanent magnet motor enables a smaller pod diameter, reducing hydrodynamic drag while maintaining high propulsion performance.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • Louisville and Boise State don’t move much after narrow losses to top-10 teams.
    — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The extremely short, picometer-scale wavelength of nuclear-decay neutrinos makes the possible collective emission cone extraordinarily narrow.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • In true postmodern fashion, Fitzgerald gets a brief, drunken cameo, meeting Jack on an ocean liner.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Since their high-profile wedding and brief honeymoon, the newlyweds haven’t spent much time together.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of brief
Adjective
  • Harris’s son Thomas Harris also runs Midtown Biscuits out of the diminutive bakery in the basement level of a midtown Victorian.
    — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Schmid is sometimes easy to barge off the ball, but makes up for his diminutive frame with great technique across the final third.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of diminutive
Adverb
  • With Elliot Anderson asked to be the fulcrum of the team, the Argentine midfielder took up the slightly wide-on-the-right midfield position that City have been working on this season.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The lights on the flanks had slightly different temperature profiles.
    — Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of slightly
Adverb
  • That gives Mobu a sense of scale and openness rarely found within a superyacht of this size, the studio says.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Most people carry extraordinary stories worth telling, and raw imagination is rarely the limiting factor.
    — Coco Mao, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of rarely
Noun
  • The 3-1 margin of victory could have been wider had City not at times missed that final bit of polish at Joie Stadium.
    — Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales have been largely out of the spotlight recently, spending the remaining bits of the summer with their three children before school begins for each.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 6 Sep. 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 8 Sep. 2026.

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