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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
These crispy miniature cones are typically filled with chives and creamy crème fraîche, heavily topped with premium Siberian osetra caviar, and finished with shimmering gold leaf. Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Junior bull riders generally graduate from riding horses, learning balance and agility, before testing their mettle on miniature bulls. Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Noun
In addition to writing the screenplay with Ford, Fish designed the sets, costumes, and miniatures, while also doing the hair and makeup for the all-Drag cast. Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 12 June 2026 This was the Davis method in miniature — an executive willing to override conventional industry wisdom about what an artist should release, proved right by the market. Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for miniature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
Adjective
  • Even tiny electromagnetic disturbances can disrupt the quantum states that perform calculations, reducing the accuracy and reliability of the system.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
  • What Uranus will look like Uranus should resemble a tiny greenish star and will appear only about 1/63 as bright as Mars.
    Joe Rao, Space.com, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • The weapon of choice to keep the screwworm at bay is a plant in Pacora, Panama, that has been continually churning out sterile flies, which mate with wild female flies to halt reproduction.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • Hormones such as estrogen and thyroid hormone are chemical messengers that regulate growth, metabolism, reproduction and many other essential functions through the endocrine system.
    Brad Reisfeld, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
Adjective
  • How crawling with minuscule life indifferent to the one that ended here.
    Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026
  • Still, the game’s result seemed minuscule when stacked against Alfonso’s personal tragedy and the earthquake’s destruction in Venezuela.
    Liana Handler Follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • The company doesn’t break out sales of individual products, but as of Thursday, Nike’s website had sold out of most adult sizes in both of the USMNT’s home and away jerseys, including both authentic and replica editions.
    Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026
  • Another replica flag steeped in American history was aboard the International Space Station from November 2014 through June 2015.
    Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 6 July 2026
Adjective
  • Touching infested water, even just a splash, can risk infection, as microscopic larvae swimming along the surface are able to wriggle through skin.
    William McCarthy, NPR, 4 July 2026
  • The culprit, Cyclospora cayetanensis, is a microscopic parasite that’s found in human feces.
    Caroline Kee, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • And the guy who loved John Wayne movies and came to do a fine imitation reckoned his should be in that spirit.
    Vahe Gregorian July 5, Kansas City Star, 5 July 2026
  • In fact, the pursuit of a truly American design style—one that turns away from imitation and toward exploration—has been a focus for architects since this country was founded.
    Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Open-source and open-weight models make different parts of an AI model available for developers to inspect, use and sometimes modify.
    Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 7 July 2026
  • Unlike some folding bikes – including popular models from Brompton and Birdy – which come with small 16-inch wheels, the Tetra gets 20-inchers for greater comfort over a variety of road surfaces.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 7 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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