1
as in little
of a size that is less than average
a small cat who never weighed more than five pounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slim
small in degree
your chances of winning the lottery are so small that it's best not to count on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in minor
lacking importance
reluctant to bring such a small matter to the boss's attention
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in petty
not broad or open in views or opinions
townspeople who were helpful to one another but who also could be small and intolerant
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of small
On the smaller end of the spectrum, the product sold as pine fines, is a mixture of small bark pieces (less than 1 inch) and fine, peatmoss-like particles.
—
Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
From the West Coast’s majestic mountains to the prairie ecoregions of the Great Plains to the white sand dunes in New Mexico, the resource zeroed in on the small towns that feature the best views of the nation's eclectic scenery.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
In West Palm Beach, Melissa and Victoria battle over a comically small patch of grass that each claims is on their property.
—Tyler Foggatt, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
That openness remained, even as Anthropic transitioned from a small research group to a massive company raising tens of billions of dollars from a wide range of profit-hungry investors.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for small
Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 6 Mar. 2026
From the West Coast’s majestic mountains to the prairie ecoregions of the Great Plains to the white sand dunes in New Mexico, the resource zeroed in on the small towns that feature the best views of the nation's eclectic scenery.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
In West Palm Beach, Melissa and Victoria battle over a comically small patch of grass that each claims is on their property.
—Tyler Foggatt, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
That openness remained, even as Anthropic transitioned from a small research group to a massive company raising tens of billions of dollars from a wide range of profit-hungry investors.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for small
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small
Adjective
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The historic district is just a few blocks wide, with the Gulf on one side, the Intracoastal on the other, and a walkable little downtown dotted with shops and galleries in between.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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When three Bruins starters — Lauren Betts, Gabriela Jaquez and Charlisse Leger-Walker — joined the UCLA dance team for a halftime performance at a men’s basketball game on March 3, Leger-Walker viewed it as just a fun little bonding moment and an expansion of the team’s intentional joy.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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House Speaker Mike Johnson, facing a historically slim GOP majority in the chamber, has only cautiously touched on the controversy in recent weeks.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
5 Mar. 2026
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Atlanta — North Carolina runner Molly Born won the USA Track & Field (USATF) women’s half marathon championship by a slim margin of just over four seconds on Sunday in Atlanta – but the result is only half the story.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Left-hander Marco Gonzales, a veteran coming back from flexor tendon surgery and in camp on a minor-league deal, followed with another three scoreless innings.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
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This will be the period when the threat of severe weather is highest, with large hail, damaging winds and minor flooding as the main concerns throughout the afternoon.—
Mary Wasson,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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What is the pettiest thing that annoys you during a race weekend?—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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Travelers can also take additional steps by staying vigilant for petty crime, and moving throughout the city with extra awareness.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Similarly diminutive and affordable chicken wraps rolled out at Sonic and Popeyes.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
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The diminutive guard is a terrific athlete who can sky around the rim as well as burst his way by opposing defenders.—
Sam Vecenie,
New York Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The slight kitten heels add a feminine touch, while the open design keeps your feet cool all day long.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
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Porcelain and ceramic tiles are both suitable, with porcelain offering a slight edge due to its better heat resistance.—
Kamron Sanders,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Zero tankers transited the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday, a narrow channel just off Iran’s southern coast that’s normally packed with an armada of 60 or more ships carrying 20% of the world’s oil.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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The narrow Strait is the only way for tankers to enter and exit the Persian Gulf.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Interestingly, these tiny wonders can detect a temperature spike in 100 nanoseconds.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
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Two tiny humanoid robots that can play soccer stand in a glass case, one blinking and gesturing at visitors and the other partially disassembled to reveal the engineering inside.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Small.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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