miniature 1 of 2

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
In her video, Miranda references several brands such as Victoria’s Secret, who partnered with food creator Sibatable—who creates miniature clothing out of pasta. — Lis Anderson, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026 Sprouts are essentially immature, miniature plants harvested shortly after germination. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2026
Noun
Yet there is a Hoya craze going on right now, and enthusiasts are assembling formidable collections of its many species, including miniatures. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Aug. 2026 Searches are exploding around tactile, beginner-friendly crafts—from crochet and embroidery to miniatures and clay projects, says Sydney Stanback, global trends and insights lead at Pinterest. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for miniature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
Adjective
  • Because batteries in wearable devices are tiny, and 5G cellular chips can instantly cut a wearable’s battery life by half, analysts expect the devices to remain tethered to a phone for at least the next five to 10 years.
    — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • How to try the arugula trick at home The actual habit is tiny.
    — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • But warmer temperatures favor mosquito reproduction and can mean the transmission season sometimes lasts as late as November, Bella explained.
    — Giada Zampano, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Copyright law then provided a framework for determining ownership, licensing, reproduction and compensation.
    — Morey Haber, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • But the one that started it all, back in 1995, had a tiny budget, a minuscule crew and a first-time director — and may still be the form’s iconic best.
    — Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The difference between either posture is likely to be minuscule, with Chairman Kevin Warsh left to take a side and persuade his fellow officials.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The museum learned about the model after a video shared by Macken’s daughter featuring the replica went viral, prompting staff to reach out.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Researchers will also create a 3-D scan of the tooth, which will be used to produce a replica.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • But that is, in principle, true because wavelike is the fundamental nature of matter at the microscopic level.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The microscopic resonator and qubit pairing can also be used for precise sensing, something Safavi-Naeini and his team are already working on with researchers at Caltech to detect and identify proteins in cells.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Santo Domingo admits there are certain people whose imitation simply gets under her skin.
    — Alesandra Dubin, Glamour, 17 Sep. 2026
  • According to the criminal complaint, police found an imitation pistol in the suspect’s bag.
    — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The risk of rogue models cannot be held back by blasts of ego.
    — Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The other image showed models climbing a ladder to reach shoes that hung from a tree branch.
    — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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