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miniature

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noun

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
Attached to the HitClips were miniature CDs of classic pop songs, from Backstreet Boys to Madonna and Aaron Carter. Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025 Still, the miniature universe created by the team made for a joyful experience. Marta Balaga, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
Come January, there will be three pairs of shoes by the front door—two big, one miniature. Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2025 Over a series of four challenges, teams will build incredible, edible worlds from scratch with lights, motion, and storybook-level detail in every miniature. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for miniature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
Adjective
  • In many respects, CDMS users receive the powerful anti-ship capabilities of a surface warfare vessel worth many hundreds of millions of dollars for just a tiny fraction of that price.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Spiders have venom to subdue prey, but the majority have fangs that are too tiny to puncture human skin.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • However, the upcoming release won’t be an exact one-to-one reproduction of the ’02 pair.
    Riley Jones, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2025
  • While scientists long suspected this energetic transformation was key to reproduction, how sperm powered this transition was unclear until now.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The magic of Parker’s music—what makes his records so restless, dithery, dynamic—hinges on the minuscule yet crucial difference between perfectionism (endlessly boring) and obsession (endlessly interesting).
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
  • All the same, these are minuscule sample sizes.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In response to a Star inquiry, the State Department confirmed Arrington’s role in obtaining the replica and described the former director as helpful and knowledgeable.
    Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Their 306,000-gallon ocean habitat is complete with a replica shipwreck that houses sharks, tarpon, and several other fish species.
    Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Meta’s model leaked just two years ago and seeded an ecosystem of imitations and refinements that moved faster than any licensing system.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Jane's chimp imitation was an easy choice to hook the average, even mildly interested, reader.
    Ron Arias, PEOPLE, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Whatever is decided, some kind of change in Madrid’s club model is coming, and has been in preparation for some time.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Beyond medical uses The team also equipped the robot with a tiny camera, enabling it to inspect hard-to-reach spots inside the jet engine model.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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