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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
Volunteers and wildlife experts are trying to lure in a miniature dachshund named Valerie on Kangaroo Island, a 1,700-square-mile outpost off the coast of South Australia. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Apr. 2025 Google on Tuesday showed off prototype glasses that combine a miniature display with the company's Gemini AI assistant. Ina Fried, Axios, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
Its floral pattern recreates, in miniature, the print on the Fromental wallpaper seen in the stair hall behind. Andrew Sessa, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2025 That’s an eight-example unicorn in reality, though now reborn in miniature, and in greater numbers. Nik Miles, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for miniature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
Adjective
  • Follicle cysts form when the tiny sac (called a follicle) that houses the maturing egg during your cycle doesn’t break open as usual to release said egg.
    Korin Miller, SELF, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Because of the unique position of the pope, a cleric with his own tiny state and significant global influence, the book is also a chronicle of contemporary international affairs.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Hess’s book arrives at a historical moment—post-Dobbs, pro-natalist, techno-dystopian—in which both pregnant bodies and the stuff of reproduction itself have come under an extraordinary degree of scrutiny, judgment, and control.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Fruit fly reproduction Fruit fly reproduction can happen quickly.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • As champagne’s popularity had been growing, a minuscule menace was spreading through the vineyards of France.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 28 Apr. 2025
  • The Heat’s margin of error is already minuscule in this series against the talented Cavaliers.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • And behind the scenes, Ocado uses digital twin technology, essentially a virtual replica of the warehouse, to simulate and optimize everything from customer demand to delivery routes.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Aaron Paul gives a compelling double performance as both the astronaut Cliff and a robot replica of Cliff temporarily controlled by fellow astronaut David (Josh Hartnett).
    Christian Holub, EW.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Protecting the human spark While AI models that simulate creativity in writing, coding, images, audio, or video can achieve remarkable imitations of human works, this sophisticated mimicry currently lacks the full depth of the human experience.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The Golden Age of great chefs in America was born out of imitation, adaption and innovation by young cooks buoyed by receptive media to get a national, even global, audience.
    John Mariani, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Across the board, all models support low-latency gaming modes (ranging from 105ms to 120ms with Nothing OS), IP55 dust and water resistance (except Buds 2a with IP54), and fast charging.
    Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Current models can extend up to 10 feet, with future versions aiming to reach beyond 25 feet.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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