pygmy 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of pygmynext
as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average a pygmy elephant

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pygmy

2 of 2

noun

ˈpig-mē How to pronounce pygmy (audio)
variants also pigmy
1
as in dwarf
something (such as an animal) much smaller than others of its kind hummingbirds may be the pygmies of the avian world, but what they lack in size they make up for in beauty

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cipher
a person of no importance or influence regrettably, most of the candidates for the party's nomination that year were political pygmies

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 pygmy
Noun
Pygmy rattlesnake Most adult dusky pygmy rattlesnakes are about 12 to 14 inches in length, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. — Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 3 June 2026 There’s also a sand pit where children can dig up replicas of pygmy mammoth bones. — Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026 The strain involved in the cruise ship outbreak, the Andes strain, is not found in North America and is linked to the pygmy rice rat that’s native in parts of Argentina and Chile. — Aria Bendix, NBC news, 12 May 2026 Fossils have also been found that indicate the islands were also once home to pygmy mammoths, which only reached 4 to 6 feet tall. — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pygmy
  1. diminutive
  2. dwarf
  3. cipher
  4. small
  5. toy
  6. nobody
  7. little
  8. insect
Adjective
  • Much of Hart’s appeal lies in his willingness to be the butt of the joke, and there are many here at his expense — thankfully not as many as usual targeting his diminutive stature.
    — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 24 July 2026
  • For the second World Cup in a row, the final is settled deep into extra time with the only goal from a diminutive midfielder.
    — Adam Hurrey, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of diminutive
Noun
  • Norse mythology reinforced this tradition through the story of Fafnir, a dwarf transformed into a dragon by his overwhelming greed for a cursed hoard of gold.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
  • All fir trees are useful to birds, and some are available in dwarf form for smaller gardens.
    — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 July 2026
Definition of dwarf
Noun
  • But in my view, our relationships to animals, whose lives are untouched by the existential woes and artifices of personhood, are the richest and most evident ciphers for our own often inscrutable psyches.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 June 2026
  • Consider a dashboard that shows applications, including keys and libraries; network traffic protocols and ciphers; hardware, such as HSMs and TPMs; and third-party dependencies, including cryptographic or software bills of materials.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Definition of cipher
Adjective
  • The division charged with keeping a handle on parasitic diseases had already been small, with only a few employees designated to parasite work.
    — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • When states lose the authority to set their own food safety and agricultural standards, consumers and small farmers pay the price.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026
Definition of small
Noun
  • Zookeepers nursed him and gave him the toy to develop his gripping ability, something newborn macaques need to survive.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
  • And while there are still comic artists and writers at small tables signing and sketching, and dealers selling original art out of binders in crates, a good chunk of the space is occupied by media and toy companies, trying to outdo one another.
    — Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026
Definition of toy
Noun
  • Yvonne and Nick’s disastrous wedding dinner is the day the cast went from nobodies to actual practitioners of the reality-television arts and sciences.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 July 2026
  • Despite the tragicomic instability and the rotating cast of nobodies temporarily tasked with running the country, when seen in macroeconomic terms, Peru appears to be doing just fine, thank you.
    — Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
Definition of nobody
Adjective
  • Sheinbaum has said that little evidence has emerged to substantiate claims of cartels interfering with elections, and noted that a state-level electoral tribunal ratified Rocha’s win in Sinaloa, after examining reports of irregularities.
    — Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 25 July 2026
  • Music, Fashion, Film wants little to do with 2024’s accessible dance-pop and persistent focus on branding.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 July 2026
Definition of little
Noun
  • Advocates in South Korea and elsewhere have increasingly argued that insects are just as reliable a source of protein as other animal products.
    — Gawon Bae, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
  • These tiny insects are a summertime nuisance that prey on people, pets, and wildlife, including birds, leaving behind an aggravating itch that can last for more than a week.
    — Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 22 July 2026
Definition of insect

Browse Nearby Words

pygmies
pygmy
pyramid
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Cite this Entry

“Pygmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pygmy. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pygmy

Nglish: Translation of pygmy for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pygmy

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