1
as in elf
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers
Snow White and the seven dwarfs
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2
as in diminutive
something (such as an animal) much smaller than others of its kind
Shetland ponies are the dwarfs of the horse world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in nobody
a person of no importance or influence
it would be ridiculous to compare the two sculptors—one's a giant of the art world and the other's a dwarf
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to halt
to hold back the normal growth of
shrubs dwarfed by the lack of water
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dwarfish
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dwarf
Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026
Try a dwarf variety like Citrus japonica 'Nagami'.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Jan. 2026
Sahil Bloom, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2026
In 2015, Phoebe Philo cast an 80-year-old Joan Didion in a Celine campaign, the author’s face dwarfed by a pair of oversized black sunglasses, yet still entirely identifiable.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026
Satsuma semi-dwarf trees (Citrus unshiu) are ideal for container gardening due to their compact size and high fruit production.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dwarf
Noun
Care Requirements When cultivating a dwarf apple tree indoors, choose a container with drainage holes that has a top diameter of 18 to 22 inches or a capacity of 15 to 25 gallons.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 10 Jan. 2026
Try a dwarf variety like Citrus japonica 'Nagami'.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
Treat income as the leverage point The return on improving your skills, expanding your scope, building new earning streams, or stepping into higher-impact roles dwarfs the difference between a 6% or 8% market return.
—Sahil Bloom, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2026
In 2015, Phoebe Philo cast an 80-year-old Joan Didion in a Celine campaign, the author’s face dwarfed by a pair of oversized black sunglasses, yet still entirely identifiable.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Drake Decker, the owner of Decker Landscape & Design, singles out dwarf Alberta spruce as being especially unpalatable to deer.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026
Satsuma semi-dwarf trees (Citrus unshiu) are ideal for container gardening due to their compact size and high fruit production.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dwarf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dwarf
Noun
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One of Magnason’s first jobs was at the National Archives of Iceland, where he was surrounded by books about the old Norse gods, colonial histories, and even stories about elves.—
Marya E. Gates,
IndieWire,
27 Jan. 2026
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Sets like Hobbiton and Rivendell (a home for some elves) are breathtaking, the makeup and prosthetics of the orcs still terrifying, and the costumes ethereal and otherworldly.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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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
Noun
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Many of Newsom’s critics who breathlessly report on his evil plans (that the left-wing mainstream media supposedly cover up) are just nobodies who feign authority and are obviously fronting for right-wing organizations.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
16 Dec. 2025
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Where else could award winning writers pop off about nothing at all, and nobodies could rattle the ivory towers?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Train traffic was halted overnight at the request of police and resumed Thursday morning, the railway said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
-
After Garner shared the story of her first encounter with Baker, Coster-Waldau was caught off-guard and halted the conversation.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Hey, if Indiana can win a national championship, in part, thanks to NBA billionaire Mark Cuban playing benevolent NIL fairy godfather, then surely the DeVos family — owners of the Orlando Magic — could consider sprinkling a little of that pixie dust on UCF’s NIL program.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
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The novel follows Viola Lockhart, the last living member of house Rosebourne — a family that inherited from its fairy ancestor the ability to magically infuse fragrance to achieve their aims.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Henri shared that without their coach, the team continued Zissi’s commitment to community service, which included a toy drive over the holidays.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
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After hearing a new toy name from their owner, dogs were able to select it correctly out of other toys.—
Liz Regalia,
Parents,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Finally, Marilyn is not presented as a cipher to be solved or quarry to be caged.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The Blind Owl is extremely dense, brimming with metaphors and ciphers and symbols.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The regime is resorting to massacres to suppress the unrest.—
Shahrnush Parsipur,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
-
What is striking is not what has been abolished but what has been absorbed, suppressed, or quietly overridden.—
Alejandro Reyes,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dwarf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dwarf. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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