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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
Each handblown glass features a miniature glass animal suspended within a delicate bubble on the stem. Mina Dragani, Architectural Digest, 14 Aug. 2026 Silicon Valley private schools are trading silent auctions for cap tables with a handful of Bay Area campuses now running miniature venture funds steered by parent-investors from Sequoia, Lightspeed, and Battery. Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
Berk questioned why two chainsaws found in the garage and a third miniature saw discovered inside the house were not collected into evidence after initial chemical swabs tested negative for blood. Claudia Rosenbaum, Vulture, 28 July 2026 Itsy Bitsy Peach is a compact miniature rose, with a mature height of two feet and flowers that change color from peach to orange. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for miniature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
Adjective
  • Trade along the route remains tiny compared with major throughways like the Suez Canal and is dominated by Russian oil and gas, which – along with a few other LNG buyers in Asia – principally flow to China.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The amount of neutrino energy absorbed by the companion star, however, would be only a tiny fraction of the amount of energy the star emits on its own, so again, this is likely to have little effect.
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The seller, parkviewandbarn, identifies the lamp as a reproduction.
    Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Modern reproductions and vintage Tiffany lamps for sale through dealers and online marketplaces let homeowners borrow the color, warm glow and statement-making quality of Tiffany without owning an authentic Tiffany Studios piece.
    Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Excess potassium, including the minuscule amounts of potassium-40, is excreted.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The film was made for a minuscule $750,000 before marketing costs.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Quotes from Yankee greats make up the park’s signage, and Elston Howard Field was created as a replica of a stadium that stood for 85 years.
    Sam Blum, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
  • There is a replica that was made for the Larry David series by designer Christina Mongini, Sweet reported.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • In real magnetic materials, these microscopic changes contribute to what is called magnetic noise.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The four-stage HEPA filter also prevents microscopic particles from escaping back into the air.
    Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Striker is one of several compounding pharmacies that have made imitation retatrutide identified by CBS News in a June investigation.
    Daniel Gilbert, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • That logic matters for retailers because beauty is highly compatible with cultural imitation.
    Darko Pavic, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Muso’s model of proactive community healthcare is showing what becomes possible when care moves closer to families.
    Big Think, Big Think, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Summary Hugging Face's latest report highlights a rapidly expanding community distribution layer for open models, converting raw weights into runnable formats like GGUF.
    Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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