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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pygmy
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
Just look at how much the internet embraced Moo Deng the baby pygmy hippo in Thailand, or Punch the monkey in a Japanese zoo.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 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.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2026
Like pygmy hippo Moo Deng or fluffy penguin Pesto, Punch is a baby animal who has captured social media’s attention (even DeuxMoi) thanks to his adorable looks and specific personality.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 29 Apr. 2026
Just look at how much the internet embraced Moo Deng the baby pygmy hippo in Thailand, or Punch the monkey in a Japanese zoo.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 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.
—Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2026
Like pygmy hippo Moo Deng or fluffy penguin Pesto, Punch is a baby animal who has captured social media’s attention (even DeuxMoi) thanks to his adorable looks and specific personality.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pygmy
Noun
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Clues from smaller galaxies To help resolve this mystery, researchers also study much smaller systems, known as dwarf galaxies, which orbit the Milky Way.—
Christopher Karwin,
The Conversation,
8 June 2026
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Until then, the two dwarf galaxy siblings will stick together, even if the big brother does continue to pick on the little one.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
7 June 2026
Noun
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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
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As zonky cross-generational ciphers go, the group’s debut, Strictly 4 the Scythe, is no Hypnotize Camp Posse, the amalgam of Three 6 Mafia and a grip of artists signed to their Hypnotize Minds label in the early 2000s.—
Dylan Green,
Pitchfork,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The more common nickname, El Mencho, is said to be a diminutive of his first name, Nemesio.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Another gender-neutral name that had a burst of popularity in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Jamie was a go-to for girls or a diminutive of James for boys.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Unlike some of his more strapping forebears (think Liam Neeson, Kevin Costner, or Aaron Eckhart), Odenkirk specializes in nobodies and normals: people one would not expect to be killing machines.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
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After all, why listen to a podcast with two nobodies co-hosting when a listener can get an hour from a familiar celebrity.—
Frank Racioppi,
Forbes.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Some yelp in pain after stepping barefoot on a peanut or toy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
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To say, ‘Okay, here is our little toy box.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
8 June 2026
Noun
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But the parasite was eliminated in those nations thanks to a wildly successful effort called the sterile insect technique, which involved the release of sterile flies in Panama that caused the fly population to collapse.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
4 June 2026
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The way to eliminate New World screwworm, Rollins said, is through what’s known as the sterile insect technique.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Shop lightweight and breathable pairs that still look polished, including these pleated trousers.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
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Is the fabric lightweight and likely to tangle?—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pygmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pygmy. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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