MINIMAL Synonyms: 32 Similar and Opposite Words

minimal

adjective

ˈmi-nə-məl

Definition of minimal

as in slightest

being the least in amount, number, or size possible the beached whales were returned to the sea with only minimal loss of life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 minimal In a statement, the company said the shutdowns had minimal impact on France’s electricity production. — Angela Charlton, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 FloatForm units can even travel together using a hybrid coordination framework, while relying on minimal human guidance. — New Atlas, 14 Aug. 2026 Look for mirrors with strong frames and minimal glass damage. — Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 14 Aug. 2026 Fox accented her minimal outfit with some maximalist accents, including a black safety pin choker with three gems hanging off. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for minimal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for minimal

Adjective

Most states, though, have enacted additional requirements for higher powered machines, including minimum age and helmet requirements.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Spain, Greece and Denmark are also planning to impose minimum age limits for social media.

— Pierre P Bairin, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of minimum

Adjective

The merch was originally made for OpenAI employees to purchase on an internal site, but the team decided to make a small capsule collection available to the public.

— T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Rival online retailers Ozon and Yandex Market use smaller depots spread over a wider network.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of small

Browse Nearby Words

minima

minimal

minimalism

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Minimal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/minimal. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of minimal

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on minimal

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

oxymoron

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes