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
Three miniature pressure sensors sit at the base of each whisker. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026 This is a plant that loves crisp evenings, and miniature varieties like toy choy are especially successful this time of year. — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 17 Sep. 2026
Noun
This includes pyrotechnics, miniatures, and animatronics to special makeup effects, forced perspective sets and other practical crafts. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 Yet there is a Hoya craze going on right now, and enthusiasts are assembling formidable collections of its many species, including miniatures. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for miniature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
Adjective
  • The daily drawing of rangoli threshold designs with rice flour is thought to feed the many souls of birds, ants, and other tiny creatures.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026
  • From the factory, this Asus Vivobook 14 comes with a pretty tiny 256GB internal drive, but adding a 512GB external SSD gives you twice the additional storage space.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The abject terror of reproduction was personified by Lamashtu, demoness of the night, drinker of blood, eater of flesh, slayer of children, untimely opener of wombs, ravager of women.
    — Eleanor Johnson, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • But warmer temperatures favor mosquito reproduction and can mean the transmission season sometimes lasts as late as November, Bella explained.
    — Giada Zampano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Their job is to reduce the world to a series of numbers that can be punched into increasingly complex statistical equations and published in esoteric journals with high barriers to entry and minuscule readerships.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Divine power is behind even our minuscule – yet distinctive – expressions of God’s presence.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 22 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • At the heart of the property sits Ruinas del Mar, a seafood restaurant designed to look like a replica of Aruba's Bushiribana gold mine ruins.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The South Side team even had a theme night in August dedicated to the Pope, where fans at Rate Field were given replica papal-style hats featuring the Sox logo in a game against the Cincinnati Reds.
    — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The report details necropsy and microscopic tissue examinations of two female belugas, 23-year-old Peekachu and 20-year-old Rain, who arrived in Chicago last month from the defunct Marineland park in Canada.
    — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026
  • For decades, Gigaphoton has produced krypton-fluoride (KrF) excimer lasers that project microscopic circuit patterns onto silicon wafers.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Like wheeled humanoids, these systems are built for structured, high-throughput environments, prioritizing mobility and efficiency over human imitation.
    — Artem Sokolov, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • That framing, blanket as functional substitute rather than diluted imitation, is what researchers need before designing longer trials.
    — Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The dine-in omakase counter has sadly departed, but in its stead, Café Sushi Shoten has adopted a to-go model paired with Japanese groceries and sundries that is no less authentic, engaging, and delicious.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026
  • In recent years, Hinton, who previously worked at Google, has issued a series of warnings about existential risks associated with AI, particularly if an AI model surpasses human intelligence and becomes autonomous.
    — Katie McQue, NPR, 26 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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