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Definition of littlenext
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little

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adverb

little

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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
One thing the trio did not touch on on the eve of America 250 was that little spat between England and a pre-independent America known as the Revolutionary War. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 July 2026 High night temperatures will bring little relief and records could be broken. ABC News, 3 July 2026
Adverb
Most urban Russians in those days were little more than one generation removed from their peasant roots, so just about everyone remembered the relevant skills. Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 25 June 2026 Likewise, the way mathematicians pursue that feeling has changed little over the centuries. Benjamin Skuse, IEEE Spectrum, 25 June 2026
Noun
Most are backward-looking, which does little to help workers focus on growth. Jake Angelo, Fortune, 19 May 2026 For nearly two decades, City Hall has poured billions of dollars into homelessness programs with precious little to show for it. Laura Chick, Daily News, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for little
Recent Examples of Synonyms for little
Adjective
  • There will be two 15-minute periods of extra time if the match ends in a draw, with a short break in between.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 30 June 2026
  • If stress builds, schedule a short stretch break and set softer deadlines where possible, because kindness to your body supports reliable output.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Name the worry out loud, then choose a small boundary that protects your energy, such as turning off notifications during a demanding task.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 June 2026
  • People milled about clutching small rainbow flags from the human rights organization Outright International.
    Hallie Golden, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2026
Adjective
  • Many of Haaland’s bags are actually Haut à Courroies (HAC), the model that the Birkin is based off, but with a slightly taller and narrower profile.
    Teddy Brown, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
  • But with 10,000 baby boomers reportedly retiring every day and millions of businesses approaching a transition point, the window to get it right is narrow.
    Esha Chhabra, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Things settled down quickly after that, though the brief dustup ended with Contreras, Boston interim manager Chad Tracy, Boston outfielder Nate Eaton and Mikolas being ejected.
    CBS News, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • The ordinance marks a brief respite in the monthslong scramble to adapt to the broad changes brought by SB 79.
    Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • Fossils unearthed by archaeologists in the Liang Bua cave on the Indonesian island of Flores in 2003 led to the discovery of the diminutive hominin.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
  • What's neat about this model is that despite its diminutive size, it's got four buttons that cover its most essential functions, as well as a preview screen on the back.
    Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 1 July 2026
Adverb
  • Meanwhile, the share of vote-by-mail ballots dropped slightly.
    Vanessa Martínez, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026
  • And all gave slightly different advice.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 27 June 2026
Adverb
  • Over three days in the downtown courtroom in June, a Times reporter observed how many immigrants were funneled into the courtroom in groups, and the judge rarely addressed them directly, typically calling up around five cases at a time.
    Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Some of these eye-popping rocks are so massive and expensive, they're rarely seen in public—but their owners serve up a rare glimpse now and then to remind the world that diamonds really are a girl’s best friend.
    Freya Drohan, InStyle, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • That was the lone bit of positive news for the Royals (34-49) on Friday.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2026
  • Each member of the band had their moment to shine while the crowd danced on the soggy earth, not minding the conditions one bit.
    Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Little.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/little. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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