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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
The turntable is part of Tiny Vinyl’s push to build a broader miniature music ecosystem. New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2026 Yes, the mountain wallpaper is pretty, but various miniature windows clutter the screen, and making any on-the-move quick changes is a fairly tiresome affair. Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
Disney loved miniatures and was an avid collector of the tiny pieces of art. Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026 Most of all, the finale did in miniature what the season has done throughout — pull the rug out from under Paula, and from under the viewers, by presenting a set of facts, and then revealing just how much more lies underneath. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for miniature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
Adjective
  • The antenna is extremely lightweight, and the team miniaturized it to be both the right size and shape to fit the tiny helicopters, which sit just 6 inches (15 centimeters) above the ground at rest.
    Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • These tiny flies, about 1/8-inch long, are drawn to moist potting soil and decaying leaves on the soil’s surface around houseplants.
    Leah Chester-Davis, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Many occur naturally in the body and act as chemical messengers, influencing metabolism, inflammation, reproduction and other physiological processes.
    Robert Pearl, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Big reveals operate to compete within the dizzying churn by making a spectacle out of commonplace family reproduction.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • The film was made for a minuscule $750,000 before marketing costs.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The top 10%-50% represent about a quarter of recipients, and the bottom 50% are just a minuscule share, according to Visa.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Depicting Washington on horseback during the Revolutionary War, the original monument has been there since 1904, and is actually a replica of one gifted to France.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Pittsburgh sculptor Brian McGuire custom designed the mold and is also working on a replica of the 1926 Central Library building.
    Juliet Bennett Rylah, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Scientists found them by dissolving away the mud and counting microscopic glass shards, remnants of the molten magma the eruption atomized into ultra-fine and rapidly cooling dust.
    Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 9 Aug. 2026
  • These help keep microscopic organisms at bay and may contribute to odor control.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Voters will just go with the real thing as opposed to the imitation.
    Jim DeFede, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The shoes have also inspired countless imitations from other brands, making the popular design more affordable and accessible, while the original remains highly coveted among shoe lovers.
    Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 July 2026
Noun
  • Find out what the bill does when one workflow triples its tool calls after a model upgrade, because that is the scenario that turns a modest platform fee into a line item the CFO wants explained.
    Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • One researcher involved in model development told the South China Morning Post that his team’s existing training pipelines depend on CUDA, making a hardware switch far from straightforward.
    Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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