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
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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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dwarf
Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Additionally, there is Zoltan (Danny Woodburn), the fan-favorite dwarf with some rather thrilling skills, and several others to round out the already expansive cast.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
Max Zahn, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
Much like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in their late 30s, Stafford has reached a point where his experience dwarfs that of younger defenders, making his offense a nightmare to defend.
—Nate Atkins, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
Astronomers hunt these rogue black holes in dwarf galaxies because, when compared to large galaxies, their smaller masses and simpler evolutionary history preserve more clues about the early growth of black holes.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dwarf
Noun
After a chance encounter on the road, the cheerful dwarf Zoltan Chivay (Danny Woodburn) combines his crew with Geralt’s.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Additionally, there is Zoltan (Danny Woodburn), the fan-favorite dwarf with some rather thrilling skills, and several others to round out the already expansive cast.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
Meanwhile, more than half of New York City voters said cost of living was the most important issue facing the city, dwarfing the other issues measured in ABC News exit polling – and around two-thirds of those voters cast ballots for Democrat Zohran Mamdani.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
Much like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning in their late 30s, Stafford has reached a point where his experience dwarfs that of younger defenders, making his offense a nightmare to defend.
—Nate Atkins, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
For instance, dwarf and semi-dwarf trees may live for 15 to 25 years, whereas standard apple trees can easily live for over 50 years.
—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
Astronomers hunt these rogue black holes in dwarf galaxies because, when compared to large galaxies, their smaller masses and simpler evolutionary history preserve more clues about the early growth of black holes.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 12 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dwarf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dwarf
Noun
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Children must abide by the rules for keeping the elves at home.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The elves were then given away, and handfuls have been on display in various locations in the following decades.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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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
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Residing on hillside slopes and gently rolling valleys surrounding the stately medieval village of Montalcino, vineyards in the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG are home to a clone of Sangiovese known locally as Brunello, which is a diminutive of the Italian word for brown.—
Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen,
Robb Report,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Professional athletes, however, aren’t nobodies.—
Joe Kozlowski,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
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More importantly, the narrative explores both sides of the conflict from the POV of grunts and 'nobodies' trying to navigate the post-Civil War state of the galaxy before the fighting stops.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Was halting training camp the best move hockey-wise?—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
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North Carolina, meanwhile, issued partial benefits to recipients on Friday but has halted further action in light of Jackson’s stay.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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While details of Gatwa’s character are not yet known, Erivo’s Jayne is described as a trailblazing fairy whose defiant streak sparks a rebellion.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
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Her younger sister, meanwhile, was dressed as a purple fairy.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
1 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Lee Lee’s legendary mascot, Buddy Lee, is the focal point of the brand’s new collaboration with designer toy powerhouse Mighty Jaxx and artist Jason Freeny.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Nov. 2025
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This year, the National Toy Hall of Fame inducted board games Trivial Pursuit and Battleship—and one decidedly more modern toy, slime.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The movie, which posits an impending nuclear strike on a major American city, is a flimsy yet high-minded piece of doomsday schlock, largely populated by ciphers in suits and drained of the pulp pleasures that schlock, at its best, can afford.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
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Such ciphers are easy to crack using techniques such as checking letter frequency and identifying common patterns.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The weight-loss drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 drugs, or GLP-1s, suppress the appetite of users, leading to weight loss.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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The experimental once-weekly drug, eloralintide, belongs to the class of drugs that mimic the pancreatic hormone amylin which slows digestion and suppresses hunger.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dwarf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dwarf. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.
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