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
After all, there’s no reason your miniature town shouldn’t have excellent curb appeal. — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026 Another time, Caleb saw a passenger come through with a miniature horse. — Meena Thiruvengadam, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
For Reed, 17 boards were not enough for that miniature Dan Hurley sitting on his shoulder. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026 Access to materials such as Tough 1500 V2 already expands its usefulness beyond miniatures and decorative prints, opening up functional projects without requiring a professional system. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for miniature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
Adjective
  • The tiny island is a wildlife reserve and nesting seabird colony of native species, including the brown booby and frigate.
    — Pedro Portal, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026
  • When the coating dries, tiny cracks naturally form across its surface.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Most of it centered on a life-size reproduction of part of the clock tower on the roof of Wako, a department store in the tony Tokyo neighborhood of Ginza, scarred by a kaiju attack.
    — Matt Alt, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Last month, Hermès approached him to create a miniature wooden reproduction of the flagship store at its historic Paris location.
    — Angela Yang, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • The Republican Party’s already minuscule 40 seats in the House appears set to shrink to 33 seats.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Back then, the number of cinemas in Estonia, which had declared its independence in 1991 amid the collapse of the USSR, was still minuscule.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Years later, while using a replica, Delciello spotted the 100-year-old original at a farmer’s market.
    — Susan DeGrane, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Its miniature replica captures the grandeur of the iconic flagship, offering collectors a piece of Manhattan holiday history without the Manhattan real estate prices.
    — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026
Adjective
  • The color of the ocean is a literal reflection of what’s in it — from microscopic plant-like organisms called phytoplankton to marine debris.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Every raindrop that hits the panel generates microscopic vibrations, creating unique acoustic signatures that vary with rainfall intensity.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 5 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Instead, the rest of the world must learn from China without mistaking adaptation for imitation.
    — Ruby Wang, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The team that opened the season as the overwhelming favorite to win Super Bowl LXI continued to look like a cheap imitation.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Their calculations used a feature of the model called a universal scaling function, which describes how physical quantities with dimensions, such as length, change over cosmic time.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is a model for community conservation, having increased its rhino population to 89 from 15 back in 1984.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Nov. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster