little 1 of 3

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as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average the petting zoo has a little horse in addition to all of the goats and sheep

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

little

2 of 3

adverb

little

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word little distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of little are diminutive, miniature, minute, small, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

When is diminutive a more appropriate choice than little?

Although the words diminutive and little have much in common, diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

In what contexts can miniature take the place of little?

The synonyms miniature and little are sometimes interchangeable, but miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When would minute be a good substitute for little?

The words minute and little can be used in similar contexts, but minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How are the words small and little related?

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 little?

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 little
Adjective
Her ensemble featured a simple yet striking little black dress with a semi-sheer bodice and a voluminous, inflated hemline, perfectly paired with dainty black mules and matching arm cuffs on both wrists. Mecca Pryor, Essence, 10 June 2025 Many of the fighters are former military personnel with meager or no pensions and little training for any activity other than war. Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
Adverb
The current soreness is little higher, in an area of his back that has never bothered him. Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 5 June 2025 Shares have advanced 14% so far in 2025, outpacing the S & P 500, which is little changed. Brian Evans, CNBC, 31 May 2025
Noun
Dominated in the first 45 minutes by the resurgent Mancunians, the Red masses who’d descended on Wembley for this first showpiece event in a generation had precious little to shout about. Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025 Critics have said the act is weighted heavily in developers’ favor while doing little to address the state’s critical need for truly affordable housing. Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for little
Recent Examples of Synonyms for little
Adjective
  • When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2025
  • Pool offers a short menu of beef burgers, turkey burgers, hot dogs and fries.
    Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • The small core teams who operate them are usually experts in biodiversity and community engagement, but not marketing.
    Michelle Greenwald, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • The motherboard is quite a bit smaller than the Framework Laptop 13 board, and the two are definitely not interchangeable.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • The Democratic primary for the New York City mayor’s race has tightened further in the latest Marist Poll, with former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ahead but with a narrower lead.
    Jared Gans, The Hill, 18 June 2025
  • This is due to the narrow percentage of Black filmmakers who have been given the space to make and distribute films for theatrical release.
    Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • There’s likely a good movie somewhere on the cutting room floor, since these ideas make brief appearances, but that they’re seldom explored speaks to a film whose roughest edges have been sanded down.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 June 2025
  • After a brief intermission, Simon came back for the hits/deep cuts portion of the night.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • But what’s the ideal role for the speedy and diminutive Achane, an accomplished cutback runner and a can’t-be-ignored threat as a slot receiver?
    Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2025
  • Their double act had begun at secondary school, in North London, where Mulcahy protected the diminutive Duffy from bullies.
    Sarah Beckwith, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
Adverb
  • As Qasem Hassan was aware, such views were rarely voiced on Israeli television.
    Eyal Press, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
  • Productivity gains rarely translate into higher wages, with only a 3-7 percent improvement in pay.
    Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Noun
  • Forensic scientists showed the jury tiny red bits of plastic stuck in the fabric of O’Keefe’s sweatshirt, and pieces of Read’s taillight near where the body was found.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 18 June 2025
  • There’s familiarity, there’s evolution and there’s a little bit of something for all demographics of music too, not just country.
    Melinda Newman, Billboard, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • McCartney, who played a residency at New York’s tiny Bowery Ballroom back in February, has no tour dates presently on his 2025 calendar.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2025
  • And with the ability to connect more than 120 devices, the tiny Slate 7 is suitable for use by work teams, families and multi-device users.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Little.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/little. Accessed 23 Jun. 2025.

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