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
With little to hold it in place, that soil quickly settles and hardens. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025 But dredging is expensive and Duque, the university professor, says Colombian politicians pay little attention to this region because of its sparse populated. John Otis, NPR, 7 Sep. 2025
Adverb
At the time, the event was little noted in the United States or Europe. Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2025 By comparison, employment has little changed in those industries for older workers. Matt Egan, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
But, with a runtime of about an hour and 35 minutes, the movie definitely hits the sweet spot for caregivers with busy schedules and for the littles who get restless. Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 18 July 2025 The stock market is kicking off the week little changed despite the latest trade headlines. Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for little
Recent Examples of Synonyms for little
Adjective
  • Such a short distance is considered well within reach of a basic marksman.
    Will Carless, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
  • In short, The Paper doesn’t quite escape the shadow of its big brother, but that’s just fine with us.
    Michael M. Rosen, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Even if advised by a manufacturer, the marble cleaning solution should still be tested on a small, inconspicuous area before getting started.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Her list continues with small but frustrating oversights.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • They’re also made with arch support and a toe box that’s not too narrow or crammed, per the brand, plus the rubber sole offers a nice cushioned platform with each step.
    Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
  • With Republicans holding only a narrow majority, the outcomes could shape the balance of power heading into 2026.
    Grace Sandman, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Young looked sharp throughout the summer, but his brief preseason misgivings carried over to the regular-season opener.
    DIAMOND VENCES, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The brief and unremarkable tenure of France’s prime minister has come crashing to an end.
    Cole Stangler, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Rather, when Labor Day Weekend ended, the man leading the league in that category was Corbin Carroll, the diminutive (by baseball standards) right fielder playing for the underwhelming Arizona Diamondbacks.
    Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • However, the diminutive blue Smurfs took over as Smurfs’ Enchanted Voyage in 1984.
    Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 29 Aug. 2025
Adverb
  • Use a silicone broom, which is more effective at picking up pet hair than traditional corn brooms that tend to trap hair in the slightly sticky bristles.
    Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The delicate curtain slightly obscures a digital color photograph of a drawing by a museum employee reimagining Picasso’s painting.
    Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • And while most teams don’t want to be defined by their running game, Hubbard rarely loses yardage with the ball.
    DIAMOND VENCES, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The actions reduced the company’s share count by about half and nearly doubled Ellison’s stake in the company to 41%—because Ellison held onto his shares over the years, rarely selling.
    Phoebe Liu, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Subtle bits of faux wheat give it additional texture, and there’s an attached loop in the back for easy hanging.
    Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
  • There’s trouble in paradise in this surprisingly profound soccer comedy, which takes an episode from 2002 that passed most of the world by but left the Republic of Ireland in bits, so much so that it was even compared (elsewhere, obviously) to the death of Princess Diana.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Little.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/little. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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