little 1 of 3

adjective

ˈli-tᵊl How to pronounce little (audio)
Definition of littlenext
1
as in short
having relatively little height there was a little hedge separating the two lawns

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in small
lacking importance there were just a few little details left to take care of

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in narrow
not broad or open in views or opinions little-minded people who dislike the fact that human society is always progressing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in brief
not lasting for a considerable time let's take a little pause to relax

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
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

1
as in slightly
in a very small quantity or degree we had little more than we needed to survive in the wilderness

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rarely
not often he's been studying very little for the bar exam

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

little

3 of 3

noun

as in bit
a very small amount there's just a little of the pie left

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
While there is little evidence of a statewide arson trend, intentionally set blazes have greater potential to spread as fire seasons lengthen, climate change intensifies and forests become denser. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026 While the day started off fairly mild, temps rapidly climbed late in the morning, with little reprieve in sight. — Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
Adverb
During the meeting, officials said the site has changed little since the early 2000s, after a previous proposal to build a Ferris wheel stalled. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026 The result is fresh, bright and unmistakably summery—a milk punch that tastes very little like milk, but could not exist without it. — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 25 July 2026
Noun
Harsher penalties do little to deter crime or prevent recidivism among young people. — Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 Champagne for the adults and apple juice for the littles. — Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for little
Recent Examples of Synonyms for little
  1. short
  2. small
  3. narrow
  4. brief
  5. diminutive
  6. slightly
  7. rarely
  8. bit
Adjective
  • The Duchess of Sussex paired her polished bottoms with a tan, lightweight short-sleeve sweater and added an understated pop of color with purple suede loafers.
    — Kaitlin Clapinski, InStyle, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The Nobel Prize Museum, National Museum, and Royal Palace are all within a short walk, as are many great restaurants.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of short
Adjective
  • They were first popularized in Georgian England as small tokens of affection, infatuation or mourning, and examples are scattered across major museums such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Potential monetary policy task force recommendations may involve less transparent communication, a smaller balance sheet with stability risks, and inflation metrics that produce a lower reading.
    — David Zhang, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • The narrow waterway passing between Iran and Oman serves as the main route for shipping crude from oil-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait to the rest of the world.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The fighting has severely disrupted shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime choke point that typically handles around a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas.
    — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • That will be followed by a brief break, before returning to the field in August and aligning to the traditional autumn-to-spring schedule most of the world’s top leagues observe.
    — John Cassillo, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Before her brief appearance, Ned and MJ are in a tense standoff with Peter, who just emerged from the multiverse to help save their universe’s Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of brief
Adjective
  • Bitingly funny in its comedy and wistful in its drama, the film rests on the delicate performance of newcomer Verma, a diminutive, age-appropriate actor who molds Ilyas in captivating ways.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Agencies today balance irrigation and development needs with the water quality and temperature needed by endangered and threatened fish, ranging from winter run Chinook salmon and Central Valley Steelhead trout to diminutive delta and longfin smelt.
    — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of diminutive
Adverb
  • Let the cake cool slightly, for about 15 minutes, before drizzling the pudding over the top.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
  • But if the answer waivers even slightly, this month will act like a wakeup call and remind you to seize the day.
    — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of slightly
Adverb
  • The film takes cannibalism – rarely broached in Malaysian popular cinema – as both literal premise and social metaphor, training its lens on characters pushed to extremes by poverty and ambition.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
  • There are also plenty of trainers – two-time Triple Crown winner Bob Baffert among them – who rarely balk at running Derby winners back two weeks later in the Preakness.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of rarely
Noun
  • And in April 2026 a researcher chasing Project Eleven's Q-Day Prize broke a 15-bit key on real quantum hardware.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • This light, summery soup is filled with fresh sweet corn and zucchini, and topped with savory bacon bits.
    — Hannah Agran, Midwest Living, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of bit

Phrases Containing little

Browse Nearby Words

litters
little
little bitty
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Little.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/little. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on little

Nglish: Translation of little for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nurture

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

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

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
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
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All