miniature 1 of 2

Definition of miniaturenext

miniature

2 of 2

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
The bird planter itself has no drainage hole on the base, but the miniature plants inside come in their very own removable nursery pot. Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2026 The Seahawks Super Bowl ring is encrusted with 20 carats of white diamonds and blue sapphires and is a miniature Lumen Field. Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
Noun
For decades, Reiner did what those numbers describe in miniature. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 9 June 2026 While shrub roses, climbers, and old garden roses need little fertilizing, hybrid teas, grandifloras, floribundas, polyanthas and miniatures will benefit from regular feeding. Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for miniature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
Adjective
  • The whole episode is a reminder to product designers everywhere that users can be extremely sensitive to the seemingly smallest changes — and Spotify clearly had not anticipated that a teeny-tiny disco ball drop would prove to be unpopular.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 12 June 2026
  • Today, Siazon’s pickles can be found at the Sacramento Natural Food Co-op, the Davis Foods Co-op, Corti Brothers, the Kitchen Table locations, Allspicery in East Sacramento and tiny but mighty Superette Market in Land Park.
    Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • But the country’s key tool for suppressing the pest — a facility that breeds sterile flies to halt reproduction of the parasite — isn’t slated to begin operating until November 2027.
    Ilena Peng, Fortune, 13 June 2026
  • Perhaps Abby pursues the reproduction of human experience to counter the void of her own life.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 12 June 2026
Adjective
  • Eastern Forest Tick Examined under a microscope, this minuscule parasite bears an uncanny resemblance to your childhood bully, right down to its mullet and Van Halen T-shirt.
    Jay Ruttenberg, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
  • Hikers dip into shady trails lined with thick brush, a favorite path being the Myakka Canopy Walkway, which offers a rare peek into the ecosystems—both minuscule and massive—within the swampy marshland.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 6 June 2026
Noun
  • Stop in Jackson Park to tour the new Obama Presidential Center, with interactive exhibits, a life-sized Oval Office replica, and a panoramic Sky Room overlooking Chicago.
    Midwest Living, Midwest Living, 12 June 2026
  • While the original fort no longer stands, a full-scale replica of the original was built and opened to the public in 2025.
    Amy Galo, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
Adjective
  • This generates a phenomenon called acoustic cavitation, in which microscopic bubbles quickly form and pop in the liquid.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 June 2026
  • Nematodes are microscopic, thread-like roundworms that naturally inhabit the soil and serve as an effective organic pest control.
    SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 11 June 2026
Noun
  • The main aim, however, was not to improve the intellect but to live in imitation of Christ.
    Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
  • There’s even a great scene in Jaws when Scheider is just sitting with his son and his son starts doing imitations of him at the dinner table.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • The quartet’s ambitions with Black Harbour include bringing more production to British Columbia as producers look to shoot locally from project development to delivery, whether on budgeting, scheduling, and crew management through to studio-level negotiations financing models.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026
  • Football has to become a money-making sector, with clubs buying and selling players as a business model, not as a government directive.
    Wael Mahdi, semafor.com, 16 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on miniature

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