Synonyms of diminutive

diminutive 1 of 2

adjective

as in small

of a size that is less than average

a single diminutive shrub on the edge of the lawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• small
• little
• tiny
• pocket
• miniature
• puny
• fine
• smallish
• dinky
• undersized
• slight
• dwarfish
• slender
• dwarf
• pocket-size
• sparse
• pygmy
• Lilliputian
• subnormal
• half-pint
• poor
• pint-size
• stunted
• shrimpy
• miniaturized
• minuscule
• toylike
• mini
• bantam
• spare
• lacking
• microscopic
• insufficient
• inadequate
• micro
• bitty
• meager
• weeny
• teeny
• infinitesimal
• slim
• scrubby
• inappreciable
• wee
• toy
• scarce
• teensy
• skimpy
• minim
• little bitty
• stingy
• scant
• scanty
• runty
• minute
• pinpoint
• teeny-weeny
• deficient
• teensy-weensy
• minikin
• wanting
• capsule
• runtish
• bite-size
• skimp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• large
• considerable
• substantial
• big
• handsome
• sizable
• great
• massive
• outsize
• bulky
• enormous
• goodly
• grand
• giant
• gigantic
• oversize
• husky
• huge
• voluminous
• vast
• hefty
• whopping
• tremendous
• prodigious
• gargantuan
• tidy
• immense
• colossal
• monstrous
• stupendous
• mountainous
• mammoth
• heroic
• gross
• generous
• monumental
• monolithic
• cavernous
• largish
• abundant
• staggering
• jumbo
• herculean
• appreciable
• titanic
• biggish
• ample
• galactic
• plentiful
• liberal
• copious
• hulking
• healthy
• bountiful
• wide
• humongous
• boxcar
• overscale
• broad
• thick
• king-size
• elephantine
• whacking
• plenteous
• Himalayan
• fat
• Brobdingnagian
• cyclopean
• adequate
• infinite
• sufficient
• leviathan
• cosmic
• Bunyanesque
• immeasurable
• pharaonic
• incalculable
• boundless
• enough

diminutive

2 of 2

noun

də-ˈmi-nyə-tiv 

as in dwarf

something (such as an animal) much smaller than others of its kind

dik-diks, the diminutives of the antelope family

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dwarf
• toy
• midget
• miniature
• mini
• scrub
• runt
• peewee
• mite
• pygmy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• giant
• monster
• mammoth
• behemoth
• colossus
• jumbo
• whale
• titan
• leviathan
• whopper

Synonym Chooser

How is the word diminutive distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of diminutive are little, miniature, minute, small, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

When can little be used instead of diminutive?

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

your pathetic little smile

When would miniature be a good substitute for diminutive?

While in some cases nearly identical to diminutive, miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When might minute be a better fit than diminutive?

In some situations, the words minute and diminutive are roughly equivalent. However, minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How are the words small and little related as synonyms of diminutive?

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 diminutive?

Tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of diminutive

Adjective

Receiving a ball punched out of Tunisia’s area, the Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder took one touch to knock it into space, before coiling his diminutive frame behind a fierce shot that fizzed and curled into the net. —Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 15 June 2026

While an archery set is a more conventional instrument of death, it’s wielded with eerie poise by one diminutive villain played by Yayan Ruhian. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 June 2026

Noun

By contrast, Naroditsky, who went by Danya, the Russian diminutive of his first name, was known for his gentleness, his sensitivity. —Jordan Himelfarb, Time, 15 Dec. 2025

Meaning: The name Indie can be a diminutive of the names India (country southern Asia) or Indiana (state in midwestern U.S.). —Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2025