least 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of leastnext
as in lowest

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

least

2 of 2

noun

as in nobody

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 least
Adjective
This year, the Rocky Mountains had the least snow on record, and the lack of snowmelt is sinking reservoir levels lower. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 The latter app colors the map, with pink the most light pollution and black the least. — Chris McMullen, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
The scales will be tipped by those least connected to the political parties, and most connected to deliberative process. — David Paleologos, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2019 Respondents were asked to rank 39 possible trends—25 of which were trends from previous years—from 1 (least likely to be a trend) to 10 (most likely to be a trend). — Leah Prinzivalli, SELF, 1 Nov. 2018 See All Example Sentences for least
Recent Examples of Synonyms for least
  1. minimal
  2. nobody
  3. mere
  4. nothing
  5. littlest
  6. zero
  7. zilch
  8. nonentity
Adjective
  • Via a merger, SpaceX would be sacrificing half of those fast-rising earnings to the Tesla shareholders, and getting what’s for now a minimal contribution from Tesla.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Go minimal with neutral colors and chrome, or classically spooky with orange and black.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of minimal
Noun
  • In the trailer, the civilians are selling themselves as a new breed of nobodies.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Despite the tragicomic instability and the rotating cast of nobodies temporarily tasked with running the country, when seen in macroeconomic terms, Peru appears to be doing just fine, thank you.
    — Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
Definition of nobody
Adjective
  • In response to the letter, Logan said his office is focused on conducting a fair and secure election while noting that Election Day is a mere 18 days away.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • But, even then, American socialists walked a fine line—they were considered too radical for the mainstream and a mere bourgeois affectation by committed class revolutionaries.
    — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of mere
Noun
  • While CinemaCon 2026 brought us exciting news about new films, it was also bogged down with status quo nothings about how Amazon MGM still hasn’t found a new James Bond.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
  • When Dana, who, like Virginia, had been successful in writing pleasant but undistinguished nothings—in her case, songs for Billy Rose’s revues—decided to try taking on more serious music by studying with Boulanger, Virginia entered a deep downward spiral.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
Definition of nothing
Adjective
  • The littlest victim, his two classmates and a teacher were gunned down by a former student Thursday in a classroom dedicated to children with special needs at Silver Rail Elementary School in the central Oregon city of Bend.
    — Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Your little girl was a little -- your littlest girl was a little naughty.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of littlest
Noun
  • Engineers could represent the two configurations as binary digits, or zeros and ones.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Oct. 2026
  • This Zuckerberg is no longer made of flesh and blood but ones and zeros.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of zero
Noun
  • The women earned as little as $25 per game—or frequently zilch.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Reviews have been mixed, with some critics embracing Gyllenhaal’s bold vision and others dismissing it as a whole lot of sound and fury, signifying zilch.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
Definition of zilch
Noun
  • During the Biden Administration, Pakistan had become a virtual pariah in Washington, or had been reduced to a nonentity, as the United States left Afghanistan and saw India as a means of countering China.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • All Dickens heroes are complete nonentities who know 217 wacky people.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
Definition of nonentity

Browse Nearby Words

leasing
least
leasts
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Least.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/least. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of asunder

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 23

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All