little 1 of 3

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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

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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
Iran has helped Russia with military drones throughout the war in Ukraine, but analysts now say there might be very little Moscow can or will to do to reciprocate. Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 23 June 2025 The Soviet Union, in the confusion and wreckage left by the war, was wasting little time installing client regimes in Eastern Europe. Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Adverb
That assumes, broadly speaking, that job market continues to remain robust, but the FOMC gains are little more confidence that inflation is returning to 2%. Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025 This is a critical, dangerous time in the realm of technology, when AI models are grabbing data with consequences little understood much less slowed. Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2025
Noun
Tia Mowry, Cairo, And Cree Speaking of egg hunts, Tia Mowry and her littles also had one. Essence, 21 Apr. 2025 There's a world where Bailey becomes a backup wing scorer, who grabs the occasional rebound, and does little else. Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for little
Recent Examples of Synonyms for little
Adjective
  • The summer solstice will occur Friday at 10:42 p.m. ET and will be both the longest day and shortest night of 2025 in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the National Weather Service.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 21 June 2025
  • Yes, Nuno will always be reminded about his short and unsuccessful stint at Tottenham Hotspur.
    Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • The veteran would be a small upgrade in the outfield for the Padres.
    Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
  • Only a small portion of the materials include these references.
    Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • While the House of Representatives passed one version of the legislation and the Senate advanced a separate one, the GOP’s narrow majorities in both chambers make the timing of the eventual package and its exact provisions less certain.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 30 June 2025
  • Romero gave chase down a narrow alley where Biddle said Sartor turned and fired, striking Romero in the right arm.
    City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • In a brief exchange with reporters on Friday, Carney addressed questions about the breakdown in talks.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 29 June 2025
  • Some suggestions seem easy and inexpensive to implement — encouraging law enforcement officers to issue a civil citation for non-violent misdemeanor offenses, an alternative to an arrest that requires a jail booking and often only a brief stay behind bars for the offender.
    Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • Pauline’s diminutive redesign has raised plenty of questions, although Nintendo rarely seems interested in providing any answers from DK lore.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025
  • Shoutout to the diminutive Mooney, who gets full marks for his effort level and compete at his size.
    Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 22 June 2025
Adverb
  • After a few years of decreasing infection, the pests rarely trouble citrus trees.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2025
  • Rountree is torque and timing, a sniper who doesn’t throw often but rarely misses.
    Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • The Bruins did a little bit of business on Sunday, signing forward Marat Khusnutdinov and defenseman Michael Callahan to two- and one-year deals, respectively.
    Stephen Conroy, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
  • The beloved mega rest stop has officially opened its doors at its first Virginia location, bringing a little bit of Texas to the Commonwealth.
    Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Tech has a tiny presence on the Southeast Asia 500, generating just under 3% of the list’s total revenue.
    Lionel Lim, Fortune, 22 June 2025
  • Capture brain signals: The device's tiny electrodes pick up signals from individual neurons in the motor cortex.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Little.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/little. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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