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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of dwarf
Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 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
Chloe Berge, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
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
Dave Smith, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
Altogether, 2,500 events are scheduled in big cities, suburbs and tiny towns across the nation, dwarfing the 1,800 scheduled before the June 14 protests of the same name.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dwarf
Noun
Consider the berries of a dwarf cotoneaster, suggests Fine Gardening magazine, or an evergreen branch, for instance.
—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 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
Verb
The mountains on either side of the water give way to towering canyon walls, spruce and pine thin out, and only stout dwarf willow and spindly alder remain.
—Chloe Berge, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025
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
Adjective
The ballroom will be the biggest structural change to the Executive Mansion since the addition in 1948 of the Truman Balcony overlooking the South Lawn, even dwarfing the residence itself.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
Altogether, 2,500 events are scheduled in big cities, suburbs and tiny towns across the nation, dwarfing the 1,800 scheduled before the June 14 protests of the same name.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dwarf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dwarf
Noun
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The hanging fireplace, seemingly lit by house elves, pairs nicely with the gratis bottles of spirits and Chilean wine.—
Laura Dannen Redman,
Robb Report,
16 Oct. 2025
-
And all these dwarves and elves and humans go, ‘What?—
Elisabeth Garber-Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 Oct. 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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Play was not halted at any time while the man was being treated.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
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Beginning in May, after Israel halted all aid to Gaza for 11 weeks, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a months-old nonprofit, became the primary food supplier in Gaza.—
Hana Kiros,
The Atlantic,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The electric vehicle company is rolling out a seasonal theme as a part of its software update that's made for ghouls, goblins and things that go bump in the night.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
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The hunger-desire gleaming in their eyes brought to mind that poem about goblin men selling goblin fruit.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 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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That hearing was expected to include Mitchell and her top prosecutors taking the stand to defend their decisions and prove that charging the protesters was not meant to suppress their viewpoints.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
24 Oct. 2025
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Most of us are socialized not just to suck it up, never to cry or show emotions, but also to suppress, go silent, hide, run away, act as if there is no agony.—
Kevin Powell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And then Justin came in and sprinkled fairy dust on it all.—
Marissa R. Moss,
Rolling Stone,
23 Oct. 2025
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But also fey and fairies and blah blah blah.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dwarf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dwarf. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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