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

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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

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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

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

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
Scammers can repeat this process hundreds of times a day, building detailed profiles with very little effort. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026 Investigators had little physical evidence to work with, and for 43 years, her killers walked free. —Francie Ebert, NBC news, 25 Apr. 2026
Adverb
Some British researchers are counting the ways, asking people around the country to send them swear words and insults that might be little known to outsiders. —Isabella Kwai, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2026 From the fanciest of fancy (The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida) to the little known but well worth seeking out (Graze Brunch Kitchen in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey) these restaurants are worth setting your alarm for. —Usa Today Network, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
More than half of littles were developmentally ready for kindergarten. —Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026 Help littles understand the concept of gratitude and paying it forward in a fun way. —Melissa Willets, Parents, 25 Dec. 2025 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
  • Poor sleep makes wrinkles look deeper, and consistently short nights accelerate visible aging.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 27 Apr. 2026
  • This interactive project looks at the impact of warmer, shorter winters on regions all over the country, from less ice fishing in Minnesota and fewer ski days in Colorado to drying reservoirs in the Southwest and more ticks and mosquitoes in the Northeast.
    — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
Definition of short
Adjective
  • Ceija Stojka’s small paintings at the Drawing Center swarm with such harrowing incident that viewers may not spot the mystery in the bottom right corner of many of her canvases.
    — Ben Davis, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
  • The Pistons are small favorites on the road for Game 3.
    — Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • But our understanding of pedantry, denoting the sticklerishness of academic specialists and grammar obsessives, is a relatively narrow one.
    — Clare Bucknell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Of course, the narrow bench-style seat will also help shorter riders flat-foot the motorcycle perfectly.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • Officials said the chaotic incident quickly triggered a multi-agency pursuit, prompting officers to deploy tire-deflation devices along a highway before the situation escalated into a brief foot chase outside of Denver.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
  • After a brief separation in 2007 owing to William's reluctance to commit, the two reconciled, became engaged in 2010 and got married in an awe-inspiring wedding spectacle held at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of brief
Adjective
  • There’s depth there and the current roster basically consists of Drake London, diminutive old friend Olamide Zaccheaus and inconsistent field stretcher Jahan Dotson.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Earthy, moody colors cosset wellness-seekers in the treatment rooms, making way for organic cream hues in the diminutive swimming pool.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of diminutive
Adverb
  • Think of him as a slightly bigger version of Darren Sproles.
    — Sam Warren, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • This act of contrition is legible in East Asia, but slightly awkward when performed by Western actors.
    — Chang Che, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of slightly
Adverb
  • Given this, what still surprises me is how rarely art schools teach the business realities of being an artist – and how often artists cling to the belief that their art alone will make their careers.
    — Magnus Resch, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
  • The wounds and humiliations of private life can rarely be redressed by law; literature offers a parallel tribunal in which those hurts are litigated and, if possible, imaginatively overcome.
    — Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
Definition of rarely
Noun
  • Shanahan said Height did a little bit of everything in college and will likely have multiple roles for the 49ers, comparing him to Byron Young and Jalon Walker, who played under new 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris with the Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcons, respectively.
    — Vic Tafur, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
  • While the third season finale of Apple TV’s Shrinking felt decidedly like a series finale, the show will indeed be back for a fourth season, with the story moving just a little bit further down the road.
    — Scott Huver, Deadline, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of bit

Phrases Containing little

Browse Nearby Words

litters
little
little bitty
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Cite this Entry

“Little.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/little. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of little for Spanish Speakers

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