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

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

little

3 of 3

noun

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

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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
Some others have inveighed against the little boy for looking disappointed. — Scott Simon, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026 And the ombudsman appointed by the court focused on impact on the consumer and had little to say about former employees or the union’s concerns. — Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
Adverb
Merely agreeing with a cause communicates very little about someone’s commitment. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 1 Oct. 2026 The department's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) also showed that layoffs fell and the number of people quitting their jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects — was little changed in August. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
Noun
Meanwhile, five pools including one just for littles—as well as complimentary non-motorized water sports—afford plenty of opportunities to stay refreshed. — Gina Kramer, USA Today, 25 July 2026 Harsher penalties do little to deter crime or prevent recidivism among young people. — Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 10 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
  • Its aim is to make rail practical for shipments that are often moved by trucks because conventional freight trains are less flexible on shorter routes.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Smith turned two short catches into dazzling scores, and Sayin connected with tight ends Nate Roberts and Mason Williams for TDs as the Buckeyes (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten) opened a 31-10 halftime lead despite some sloppy moments.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of short
Adjective
  • There’s also a small but well-equipped 24-hour gym, a sauna, steam rooms, and a Jacuzzi area with daybeds.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
  • In a small Idaho town, a young mother is accused of killing her young twins.
    — Glenn Thrush Eric Schmitt Liam Stack Tim Balk, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • Despite steady attacks from Iran, oil tankers and other commercial vessels have continued flowing through the narrow waterway.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Acton holds a narrow edge over Republican firebrand Vivek Ramaswamy, while Kaptur is contending with a tough reelection battle after Ohio Republicans redrew the boundaries of the longtime congresswoman’s district to pull in more GOP voters.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • With this fast-approaching launch date and the program’s brief approval window, travelers could have an Argentine passport in hand in a matter of months.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The onetime estate of Dolly Parton, who passed away in August at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, has surfaced for sale in the exclusive Bird Streets neighborhood of Los Angeles for the first time in a quarter-century.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of brief
Adjective
  • The Lucre mules are crafted in butter-soft kid suede in a dark midnight shade and have the most diminutive toe strap holding the shoe in place.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • At 5ft 7in (170cm), Sullivan is a diminutive winger with his own needs.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of diminutive
Adverb
  • However, a wall of wind shear is expected to slightly destabilize the storm just before landfall — slowing its wind speeds to 100 mph and broadening the system, spreading the high winds and heavy rains even further from the core of the storm.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Barkley delivered a nasty spin move that left him slightly sideways, forcing him to jump and then leapfrog backward.
    — Mark Long, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of slightly
Adverb
  • Each episode follows one garden over an extended period, capturing animal behavior rarely witnessed by human eyes – from raising families and defending territories to hunting, courting and surviving the changing seasons.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Yet even as built, the stadium rarely reached capacity, a challenge eventually compounded by the foundering product on the gridiron.
    — Shun Graves, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of rarely
Noun
  • This whole bit is totally misplayed (though the gown is spectacular).
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Yet beneath that paper-like surface is a surprisingly simple bit of physics.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 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 11 Oct. 2026.

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