miniature 1 of 2

Definition of miniaturenext

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
The team also realized that this young embolomere looked like a miniature adult. Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 23 June 2026 There were also curious neighbors to reassure and an unexpected challenge to negotiate from a miniature horse called Spirit that the family keeps on the property. ABC News, 21 June 2026
Noun
The third image zooms out showing this bathroom is a miniature and man has planted his foot into the tableau. Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 11 June 2026 Inside are a series of smaller, more intimate rooms frescoed with Pompeian miniatures, and decorated with period furniture and family heirlooms. Ruchira Sharma, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for miniature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
Adjective
  • The tiny female hippo is already drawing comparisons to the beloved Moo Deng, the Thai baby pygmy hippo who became a global sensation in 2024.
    Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026
  • Hopefully, this will help determine whether they’re sparked by an eruption from a single neutron star, or when two of these tiny but massive bodies collide.
    Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • The problem is, mainstream science and society have been slow to move away from the narrative that all animals copulate only for reproduction, any same-sex activity is purely anomalous (and unnatural), and every species is male-dominated.
    Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2026
  • The new earbuds are designed to deliver natural ambiance with high-quality audio reproduction without the need for electronic pass-through modes.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026
Adjective
  • The climb up the dune is so severe that players cannot see the minuscule green from the tee box, which is surrounded by an intimidating set of bunkers that catch wayward shots.
    Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 16 June 2026
  • Plus, the minuscule fines, when they are applied, aren't going to deter millionaires from flopping to get cheap free throws.
    Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
Noun
  • Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones has raised millions, including helping to get $800,000 in donations to fund a replica of a historic ship for the maritime museum in his San Diego district.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • When fans walked into Globe Life Mall, they were handed a free sleeveless replica jersey for former Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler, who happens to be Jewish.
    Mac Engel June 18, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 June 2026
Adjective
  • The Polymers of Locked Intrinsic Microporosity (PLIMs) are ultrathin membranes that can filter out complex hydrocarbon mixtures at a microscopic level without needing a heat source.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 June 2026
  • Biofilm is a microscopic, slimy layer of bacteria that sits on the surfaces and resists disinfectants over time.
    Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • The robot is built on the open-source LeRobot platform and uses imitation learning to improve its grasping capabilities.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 16 June 2026
  • The films have spawned endless imitations, parodies and spinoffs, such as this week’s Verizon commercial featuring Myers and co-stars Seth Green, Mindy Sterling and Rob Lowe.
    Tom Tapp, Deadline, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • Through a series of measures starting in 2022, Washington has cut off China’s access to the cutting-edge GPUs, throttling Chinese companies’ efforts in competing for the top AI models with US tech giants.
    John Liu, CNN Money, 24 June 2026
  • Meta announced its new set of smart glasses priced at $299, undercutting some of its earlier models as the company pushes to bring wearables to a broader audience.
    Justina Lee, CNBC, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

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