diminutive 1 of 2

Definition of diminutivenext

diminutive

2 of 2

noun

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 diminutive
Adjective
And a scene depicting a barroom brawl among little people, interrupted by similarly diminutive cops and paramedics, feels like it could have been devised by Buñuel. Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026 The diminutive menu contained just three sandwiches, two salads and a single dessert. Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 25 June 2026
Noun
While the Olympics doesn't specify which city Tina lives in, her name is a diminutive for Cortina, one of the cities co-hosting the Winter Olympics. Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for diminutive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diminutive
Adjective
  • Name the worry out loud, then choose a small boundary that protects your energy, such as turning off notifications during a demanding task.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 June 2026
  • People milled about clutching small rainbow flags from the human rights organization Outright International.
    Hallie Golden, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
Noun
  • For pots, look for dwarf zinnia varieties that won’t require staking.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
  • As virality goes, this is not a big number, but the passion that the account has aroused dwarfs its reach.
    David Kamp, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • Selena Gomez took the little black dress to a new level ahead of longtime friend Taylor Swift’s wedding.
    Jennifer McClellan, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • That little green or yellow can in the grocery store that boasts pictures of pears, cherries, grapes, and other fruit on the label?
    Josh Miller, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Play soft music to drown out fireworks blasts and give your pet something to do, like putting treats inside an interactive toy, to keep them calm and happy.
    Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Other features include a keychain hole, a quick-access hook, and a magnetic fidget toy, which is less about utility and more about tactile focus, utilizing the remaining surface space on the tool.
    Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 2 July 2026
Adjective
  • Even tiny electromagnetic disturbances can disrupt the quantum states that perform calculations, reducing the accuracy and reliability of the system.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
  • What Uranus will look like Uranus should resemble a tiny greenish star and will appear only about 1/63 as bright as Mars.
    Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Dreyer went on to build many Indy 500 cars in the 1930s and built championship-winning sprint cars, midgets and quarter-midgets.
    Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
  • Larson was untouchable in midget racing before Bell came along, and then Bell started beating Larson and forced the Californian to raise his game.
    Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Diminutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diminutive. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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