Definition of smallnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word small distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of small are diminutive, little, miniature, minute, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

a relatively small backyard

In what contexts can diminutive take the place of small?

In some situations, the words diminutive and small are roughly equivalent. However, diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

When can little be used instead of small?

The meanings of little and small largely overlap; however, little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

When could miniature be used to replace small?

The words miniature and small can be used in similar contexts, but miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When is it sensible to use minute instead of small?

The words minute and small are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How are the words tiny and minute related as synonyms of small?

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 small Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has its own navy that also relies on smaller vessels to do swarm attacks and drop mines. ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026 The idea is to build more, smaller homes, and let the market take care of the price. Mark Dee march 28, Idaho Statesman, 28 Mar. 2026 Lehecka, a 24-year-old from a small village north of Prague, will be playing in his first Masters 1000 final. Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026 The bodies, representing thousands of producers, directors, writers, composers and performers from across the EU, noted that the decision was significant from a cultural standpoint, especially for a relatively small territory such as the Wallonia-Brussels region. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for small
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small
Adjective
  • Residents in the San Gabriel Valley are contending with a dramatic surge in black flies, a painful little pest known for biting around the eyes and necks of people and pets.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Plus, little baby leaves are thinner.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • That aggressively slim profile is possible thanks to a sophisticated three-sided aluminum chassis that looks slick enough for the boardroom and is sturdy.
    Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The governor highlighted that this bloated race has allowed Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco to effectively get their messages out to more voters, given the slim race within the California GOP.
    Noe Padilla, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Even minor sparks or drifting embers can incite nearby foliage or grass, setting off a rapidly spreading fire.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2026
  • In a letter sent to students, the academic institution said there had been some minor damage to buildings but no injuries.
    Moriah Thomas, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Hole, Oleg and Martin Aminov (Simon J Berger), a petty gun smuggler mistakenly accused of being the serial killer, wind up in a stationary elevator stuck between two floors with an armed Waaler reaching in to grab Oleg’s hair.
    K.J. Yossman, Variety, 27 Mar. 2026
  • The show will focus on the disappearance of petty criminal El Nani (aka Santiago Correla).
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Each of those films also features a plucky, diminutive hero who succeeds in the face of naysayers—an easy figure for any kid watching to root for.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
  • These ripe berries are alluringly red, uniformly speckled with dry, diminutive yellow seeds.
    Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Most predictor sites and betting services show Knueppel with a slight lead, but with Flagg fast surging since his March 5 return from a left midfoot sprain.
    Brad Townsend, Dallas Morning News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • The key is to consciously combine the shades of green, either within a color family for a calm, elevated look or with slight contrasts to create tension.
    Jana Ackermann, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Plus Yosh Nijman, Ekwonu’s backup and the Panthers’ swing tackle, suddenly retired earlier this month — flinging the Panthers’ offensive line plan into even narrower straits.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2026
  • As deductions narrow and dependents age out, Roth withdrawals become one of the cleanest sources of tax-free income available for the 62-to-70 age group.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The plot pivots on tiny gestures involving matters of life and death.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Each impact steals a tiny bit of the spacecraft’s speed, pushing it a smidgen closer to Earth.
    Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Small.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

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