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 was little information on survivors on the Chinese side, where the death toll rose to five Friday as state media showed evacuations of villages and leaders’ efforts to direct the relief response. — Niranjan Shrestha, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 The Postal Service rolled out its new requirements with the November midterms quickly approaching, leaving states with little time to implement them. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Despite being little known across the pond, wine traditions in the region run deep and have survived despite nearly overwhelming odds. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2026 The financing There’s been very little disclosed about how this deal is being financed. — Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 13 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
  • West Suburban closed in March, after the hospital’s CEO said problems with the billing systems left the hospital short on cash.
    — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Messages of greater than 100 words were more likely to receive a quick reply than short messages of 4-25 words.
    — Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of short
Adjective
  • That’s a dangerous prospect for any country, but especially for Singapore, crammed into a space smaller than New York City.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • But after home brewers were able to show the appeal of hoppy IPAs, malty stouts and citrusy wheat ales, that eventually led to a boom in small breweries.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • Burner accounts from China and Russia And those partnership ads are channeled through a narrow group of creators, ORL says.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Just like their simulated counterparts, the worms consistently moved through the narrower channels faster than the wider ones.
    — K. R. Prathyusha, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • Parton died Tuesday at 80 following a brief battle with cancer.
    — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Previous research has shown that on average, one death is prevented for every 230 naloxone kits distributed, so even this brief ban may have resulted in several preventable overdose deaths.
    — Paul Christine, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of brief
Adjective
  • When Big Man arrives with Elena in tow, the diminutive Nora takes down the giant man in less than a minute, all without a bra on!
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Brick’s diminutive size helps ground a building — regardless of scale — in the human hand that was integral to its construction.
    — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminutive
Adverb
  • This pick has a slightly boxy cut and just-so crop, which feels modern without requiring you to flash your belly button to the masses.
    — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Everyone in Los Angeles apologized to me about the weather, which was warm, breezy, and ever so slightly overcast—in short, perfect.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of slightly
Adverb
  • Strong El Niño events, such as the one revving up in the tropical Pacific, have rarely spared the Golden State from significant and damaging consequences.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Fast forward almost a year and lawmakers rarely reference the topic anymore.
    — Ali Swenson, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of rarely
Noun
  • But the tricky bit is doing so without eviscerating Congress’ regulatory powers across a lot of different dimensions, including criminal law, that the justices may also think important.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The terrific new album was played in its entirety during the middle portion of Squeeze’s set and evoked a little bit of the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds in some spots.
    — David Chiu, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 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 1 Sep. 2026.

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