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
As a result, despite having been paired together for years, very little mentoring has occurred. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026 Created by Joe Brumm, Bluey centers around an Australian blue heeler pup and her family -- mom Chilli, dad bandit and little sister Bingo. — Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Sony Group stock was trading little changed in Tokyo, compared to the previous day, after the earnings results were released. — ABC News, 31 July 2026 The Studios will also create a consultancy for producers to access the new tax credits whose structure is little known, especially among younger and new producers, said Carballo. — John Hopewell, Variety, 29 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
  • However short its window, think of it as a bridge to help ease your wardrobe’s transition from warmer days to cooler ones.
    — Andrea Zendejas, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Three total solar eclipses within about two years occur because three separate Saros series happen to align over a short period.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of short
Adjective
  • These vines will also happily wind their way around tree trunks and shrubs and fix themselves in place with small rootlets that take on a hairy appearance as poison ivy plants mature.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Tidy a corner and play a favorite song, letting a small routine remind everyone that care comes through simple, repeatable acts.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • Totality — when the sun is completely obscured — is only visible within the narrow path of the moon's shadow.
    — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The part east of West Broadway that bleeds into the grit of the Financial District, the skyscrapers so tall and the streets so narrow that sunlight doesn’t reach much at all.
    — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • Domestic deployments have generally been reserved for relatively brief moments of extraordinary unrest, major security threats or natural disasters.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Discussion of the matter during Monday’s meeting was brief and dismissed, as the agenda instead focused on potential CFP expansion to 16 and 24 teams.
    — Chris Vannini, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of brief
Adjective
  • White Water's diminutive cocktail bar has awesome bottled cocktails served in proper glassware that make for the perfect sundowner to carry across the boardwalk to soak up golden hour over the Pacific.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The true masters of diminutive camping vehicles hail from Japan and South Korea, but Wellhouse Leisure is quickly establishing itself as a master craftsman of western tiny camping.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminutive
Adverb
  • Finally, the weather forecast is warm in Philadelphia, with the wind slightly blowing out to right field, further enhancing the chances of Schwarber and Harper hitting home runs.
    — Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Some occupy the farmhouses on the lower slope, overlooking the cobbled courtyard and Mediterranean herb gardens, while others are slightly further up and offer panoramic views of the Panzano valley.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of slightly
Adverb
  • Creditors rarely challenge such plans because most disputes are resolved earlier.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Carrington was assessed a flagrant 2 foul and ejected from the game, a rare correct call from the league's officials, then took it upon herself to demonstrate beautifully why the WNBA is rarely taken seriously.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of rarely
Noun
  • Demo time Early next year, Halliburton will drill the first test well—using an extra-large drill bit—to delve thousands of feet underground vertically and horizontally.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026
  • In IconArrows pointing outwards Berkshire still came out a little bit ahead, however, as the stock is now trading just under $184.
    — Alex Crippen, CNBC, 9 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 15 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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
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
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All