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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pygmy
Sam Thielman, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Videos and photos of the baby pygmy have garnered millions of views on social media.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025
Adult pygmy hippos generally weigh between 350 and 600 pounds, or about the same as some domestic pigs.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 25 Dec. 2024
Poppy the baby pygmy hippo finally has her own livestream.
—Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Noun
Complicating their life on a pygmy goat sanctuary in Vermont is a crew of old friends who live nearby, several of them in the same house.
—Sam Thielman, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Videos and photos of the baby pygmy have garnered millions of views on social media.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025
Adult pygmy hippos generally weigh between 350 and 600 pounds, or about the same as some domestic pigs.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 25 Dec. 2024
Poppy the baby pygmy hippo finally has her own livestream.
—Sabrina Moreno, Axios, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pygmy
Adjective
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And following a violent barn house showdown in which a diminutive, yet completely feral, octogenarian visibly grows new fangs, such suspicions are confirmed.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
10 June 2025
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One-quarter of the way through the 21st Century, high-end SUVs are one of the dominant categories in the automotive market — every brand from Acura to Volvo has them, in sizes ranging from diminutive to Brobdingnagian.—
Will Sabel Courtney,
Robb Report,
5 June 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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Review your account settings: Make sure your recovery phone number and email are current.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2025
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Only a small percentage of college stars will ever play professionally, and an even tinier number will become wealthy, but the fate of the vast majority of student-athletes is a matter of indifference to the predatory NCAA.—
Guy Lawson,
Rolling Stone,
22 June 2025
Adjective
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The veteran would be a small upgrade in the outfield for the Padres.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
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Those are the numbers for a 2.5-MW commercial-scale version, anyway; thus far, the idea has only been tested at smaller scale.—
Loz Blain
June 30,
New Atlas,
30 June 2025
Noun
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The new toys will be available in Lil McDonald's Happy Meals nationwide starting July 1.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
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While another kids' toy sparked confusion just like the bank-toy.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Do control the Asian psyllid insects with an insecticide spray at each flush of growth to prevent the spread of greening disease.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 June 2025
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For instance, the insects that feast on juneberry flowers return the favor by carrying pollen to other blossoms.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Each day, heat impacts will last well into the night thanks to very warm overnight low temperatures offering very little in the way of relief.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
23 June 2025
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Taylor, meanwhile, became a meme at the end of last year as fans couldn’t get enough of her performance as Young Nessarose, Elphaba’s little sister, in Wicked.—
Stephen Daw,
Billboard,
23 June 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 4 Jul. 2025.
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