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Definition of minutenext

minute

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adjective

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minute

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective minute differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of minute are circumstantial, detailed, and particular. While all these words mean "dealing with a matter fully and usually point by point," minute implies close and searching attention to the smallest details.

a minute examination of a fossil

In what contexts can circumstantial take the place of minute?

The synonyms circumstantial and minute are sometimes interchangeable, but circumstantial implies fullness of detail that fixes something described in time and space.

a circumstantial account of our visit

When might detailed be a better fit than minute?

Although the words detailed and minute have much in common, detailed stresses abundance or completeness of detail.

a detailed analysis of the event

When is particular a more appropriate choice than minute?

The words particular and minute can be used in similar contexts, but particular implies a precise attention to every detail.

a particular description of the scene of the crime

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 minute
Noun
Five minutes later, Angel City found the equalizer on a goal from Emily Sams. Damian Calhoun, Daily News, 10 May 2026 Give yourself 25 minutes to post or draft, then close it. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Adjective
An emotionally secure person doesn't rush to defend themselves or send a follow-up email walking through their reasoning in minute detail. Jessica Weiss, CNBC, 3 Apr. 2026 The team used a micro-dispenser that emits minute droplets of liquid fragrance, along with ultrasound waves to atomize those droplets into a fine mist. Shirl Leigh march 31, New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for minute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for minute
Noun
  • The service Most, but not all, staff here speak English, but no one is more than a few seconds away from someone who can help you.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
  • As a quick aside, Kenny Atkinson put in his third string near the end of the game and the Pistons cut a sizable deficit down to eight points with about 50 seconds left.
    Darnell Mayberry, New York Times, 12 May 2026
Adjective
  • Abel’s detailed knowledge about Berkshire’s operating businesses won praise, but the unexplained absence of substantial buybacks and a lack of clarity on the future of the equity portfolio and Berkshire’s big cash pile are coming up as negatives.
    Alex Crippen, CNBC, 9 May 2026
  • The district is highly educated and is considered to favor thoughtful candidates with extensive resumes and detailed policy platforms.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026
Adjective
  • The hearts and minds of Braves players were on Bobby Cox on a sunny evening at Dodger Stadium before the middle game of a three-game series against the Dodgers — a game that meant very little, considering the news of the day.
    Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 10 May 2026
  • The peas themselves are piled like cabochons over a thin pastry shell, dressed in a tart citrus vinaigrette and studded with slivers of pickled shallots that deliver bracing little sparks of brine against the crisp sweetness of the legumes.
    Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • Eligible organizations may request up to $200,000, and clinics must provide free or nominal-fee services, including representation, taxpayer education, and advocacy.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
  • However, Fulmer said that the society worries that if the mansion is sold, even for a nominal amount, then the end of public maintenance funding could have a striking effect on the face of the building.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026
Adjective
  • With Pluto turning retrograde in your 12th House of Reflection, patterns, habits, or emotional cycles may come into focus in subtle but meaningful ways.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2026
  • Now, there’s no mention of Eugenie’s extended family, just a subtle but clear message about their connection to the King and no one else.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 May 2026
Adjective
  • One new study looked at how the coloring of microplastics – the tiny bits of plastics found everywhere from our rivers to our brains – may actually be helping increase temperatures.
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 7 May 2026
  • The lab didn't take DNA samples from each fish, which can be done by clipping off a tiny bit of one fin.
    Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • To prepare for the release of the 1926 census, archivists spent nearly three years conserving, digitizing and transcribing the decades-old data, McBride said.
    Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Conversate makes the glasses listen to and transcribe your conversations, using Even's AI to summarize and even suggest topics related to the subject at hand.
    Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • For a classic Los Angeles moment, The Beverly Hills Hotel is nearby as well—an iconic spot for a drink or a bit of celebrity spotting.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
  • The food remains rigorously composed but more attuned to our moment, and the servers, a number of whom have worked for Daniel Boulud for decades, prize warmth as much as decorum.
    Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Minute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/minute. Accessed 13 May. 2026.

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