as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average
a pygmy elephant
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in number
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pygmy
Greta Cross, USA Today, 12 July 2025
The pygmy hippo who became a viral internet sensation turned 1 on Thursday.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
The pygmy hippo is native to Western Africa and is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
As one of the few dozen pygmy hippos living in such facilities across the country, the pygmy hippo has received specialized attention, officials said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Noun
The park will also offer a pygmy hippo meet and greet experience during its open season, which is March through November.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 12 July 2025
The pygmy hippo who became a viral internet sensation turned 1 on Thursday.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
The pygmy hippo is native to Western Africa and is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.
—Siladitya Ray, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
As one of the few dozen pygmy hippos living in such facilities across the country, the pygmy hippo has received specialized attention, officials said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pygmy
Adjective
-
The best part of that bit is a diminutive JD Vance as Tattoo.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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Visible only under a microscope, the diminutive innards are called organoids.—
Alex Knapp,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Tell me a little bit about the technical side of filming a dwarf and an elf together.—
Devan Coggan,
EW.com,
13 Oct. 2022
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Other new characters include Disa, the first female dwarf ever shown in the Lord of the Rings series.—
Ethan Millman,
Rolling Stone,
22 July 2022
Noun
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There are more shows, but there are less numbers in those shows.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
7 Aug. 2025
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Police were able to obtain the license plate number of one of the vehicles that fled.—
Hailey Roden,
The Enquirer,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Going directly from cooking inside the house and only trying my own food to trying small restaurants and traveling within a week’s span was a blessing.—
Kenneth J. Williams Jr,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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On a sunny morning in late June, his exercise regimen began with small steps: His right foot keeping pace with the treadmill, his left foot stationary, off to the side.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Where to watch: HBO Max 'The Monkey' Based on a Stephen King short story, Osgood Perkins' gory and gloriously absurd horror comedy unleashes Theo James as estranged twins trying to rid themselves of a cursed monkey toy that's a harbinger of death.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
15 Aug. 2025
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Other than food, many school supplies and a lot of brand-new toys used for birthdays and Christmas were also damaged, including boxes of posters donated from Walmart that were destroyed by the water.—
Erik S. Hanley,
jsonline.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Apart from the insects crawling on Olivia’s hands, cows in the slaughterhouse inhabit the film’s world alongside Olivia.—
Jason Liwag,
Variety,
14 Aug. 2025
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Introduce predatory insects like parasitic wasps that prey on caterpillars and welcome birds in the garden.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
14 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There was a broad perception that López Obrador did little to confront the cartels.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
7 Aug. 2025
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These hard-working little creatures stockpile food in their dens for winter.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Most of the movie is a vaguely comical swipe at Napoleon in domestic life—an awkward lover, a jealous husband, an inveterate complainer, and in sum an annoying twerp.—
Kyle Smith,
WSJ,
21 Nov. 2023
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Kind of a little twerp, now and again.—
Ashley Fetters Maloy,
Washington Post,
7 Nov. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Pygmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pygmy. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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