miniature 1 of 2

Definition of miniaturenext
as in reproduction
an exact representation of something in greatly reduced size a diorama filled with miniatures of town buildings as they looked in the 19th century

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word miniature distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of miniature are diminutive, little, minute, small, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When might diminutive be a better fit than miniature?

Although the words diminutive and miniature have much in common, diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

When can little be used instead of miniature?

The synonyms little and miniature are sometimes interchangeable, but little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

In what contexts can minute take the place of miniature?

The words minute and miniature can be used in similar contexts, but minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How do small and little relate to one another, in the sense of miniature?

Both small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

a relatively small backyard

How are the words tiny and minute related as synonyms of miniature?

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 miniature
Adjective
Buffalo Phil’s Pizza and Grille A miniature train delivers your food! Alicia Underlee Nelson, Midwest Living, 15 July 2026 While these moving vignettes carry the weight of history, Barrois has shrunk them down to miniature size. Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 14 July 2026
Noun
For Gerber, the miniature serves as more than a nostalgic attraction. Daily News, 20 June 2026 In addition to writing the screenplay with Ford, Fish designed the sets, costumes, and miniatures, while also doing the hair and makeup for the all-Drag cast. Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for miniature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
Adjective
  • This allows the hybrid system to operate continuously for days or even weeks with a tiny power system.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 July 2026
  • That gives the three imminent data centers in Miami-Dade a tinier footprint than the headline makers elsewhere in the state, said Margaret Cook, vice president of water and community resilience at the Houston Advanced Research Center.
    Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • As a result, this could cause diminished reproduction cycles for the whales.
    Pat Mueller, USA Today, 20 July 2026
  • Studies show warmer winters have also extended their reproduction period and reduced cold fatalities.
    Kasha Patel, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
Adjective
  • The minuscule particles can lead to breathing problems like bronchitis and cause inflammation that aggravates diabetes, heart disease and other health conditions.
    Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • Scientists at Aalto University in Finland have built the world’s first cyclic heat engine, operating inside a superconducting circuit and using a minuscule amount of heat from a quantum refrigerator to convert it into useful work.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026
Noun
  • Javier Bardem, wearing a Spain replica shirt with Borja Iglesias’ name and No 26 on the back, was shown celebrating in the stands.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • The foursome was seated arm in arm, wearing replica jerseys of Spain’s team and celebrating the country’s dramatic semifinal win over France.
    Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 19 July 2026
Adjective
  • With film so much larger than the standard 35mm frame even microscopic flaws show up large.
    Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026
  • Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water.
    Savannah Peters, Fortune, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • Walker wore his Cardinals hat backward, chewed a big wad of bubble gum and reveled afterward in flashing his imitation Liberty Bell bling, the champions chain presented by Ryan Howard.
    Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026
  • The platform includes software interfaces and development tools for vision-language-action (VLA) models, reinforcement learning and imitation learning, allowing developers to move AI algorithms from virtual environments to real-world hardware.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • Adjusting for the volume of games played, we have been treated to 14 per cent more goals than the data model would expect.
    Mark Carey, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • The company also benefits from the structure of the franchise model.
    Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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