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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pygmy
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2025
Photo of the day: Happy birthday, Moo Deng Thailand's iconic baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng celebrated her first birthday on Thursday, devouring a massive tropical fruit platter alongside her mother as throngs of adoring fans turned up for her four-day party.
—Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Fortunately for her fans, Moo Deng will likely have a many more birthdays, since pygmy hippos can live up to 50 years.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 10 July 2025
But in some good news, the Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Kansas welcomed a new male baby pygmy hippo on June 26.
—Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Noun
In the Southeast, there are several venomous snakes that could potentially cause an injury to a human or pet: three species of rattlesnakes (eastern diamondback, timber, and pygmy), copperhead, cotton mouth (also known as water moccasins), and coral snake, says Maerz.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2025
Photo of the day: Happy birthday, Moo Deng Thailand's iconic baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng celebrated her first birthday on Thursday, devouring a massive tropical fruit platter alongside her mother as throngs of adoring fans turned up for her four-day party.
—Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Fortunately for her fans, Moo Deng will likely have a many more birthdays, since pygmy hippos can live up to 50 years.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 10 July 2025
But in some good news, the Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Kansas welcomed a new male baby pygmy hippo on June 26.
—Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pygmy
Adjective
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Primordial black holes, meanwhile, are theorized to be much more diminutive than even stellar mass black holes, with masses predicted to be anywhere from that of giant planets down to average-sized asteroids.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Rather, when Labor Day Weekend ended, the man leading the league in that category was Corbin Carroll, the diminutive (by baseball standards) right fielder playing for the underwhelming Arizona Diamondbacks.—
Dan Freedman,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Oxygenic photosynthesis might be just out of reach on a planet closely orbiting an M-dwarf, says Duffy.—
Bruce Dorminey,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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In the winter, the dwarf conifers will be the star of the show.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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At one point, a running number tied to Boys and Girls Clubs of America flashed on the screen, starting at $100,000.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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These medications can lower the number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps fight bacterial infections.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This personal blender can whip up breakfast smoothies, sauces and dips, salsas, omelets, and more thanks to its small but mighty 250-watt power base and stainless steel cross blade.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
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Among its 14 plant oils are argan kernel and rice bran, which regulate sebum production and loosen dead skin cells, respectively—and, together, leave your pores looking significantly smaller and your skin significantly smoother.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In addition, according to people at Bandai Spirits, Dunbine is one of, if not the, best-selling mecha anime toy brands in Japan, even more so than Gundam (although Gundam’s model kit sales eclipse this, obviously).—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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The film crew had to manufacture one of those toy stores to stand-in for the hiding spot for Manchester for the movie.—
Zach Dennis,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Since this aphid attracts a wide variety of beneficial insects that prey on it and pecan pests, crape myrtles have been planted in pecan orchards with a positive impact on pecan harvests.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
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Highly resistant to rot, insects, and fire, old redwoods provide an extremely durable carbon piggy bank storing up to 1,300 tons per acre.—
John P. O’Brien,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Olympic silver medalist ran textbook races all season with little to no critiques on form and competitive nature.—
Katelyn Hutchison,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Most available positions are informal, poorly compensated and offer little stability or room for career growth.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Taking on classic buddy-comedy attributes, Sam is the together one with a programmatic path toward life as a wealthy but hollow finance twerp, while Ari is the brash, cracked, less-medicated-than-he-should-be bull in a china shop.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
8 Sep. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Pygmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pygmy. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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