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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pygmy
Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
The smallest snake in the state, the pygmy rattlesnake, packs a punch given its compact size.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Sep. 2025
The baby's arrival isn't just a big deal not only for the proud parents, but also for the zoo since this is the first pygmy hippo calf ever born there.
—Sarah Scanlan, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
What to know about pygmy hippos Pygmy hippos are native to West Africa, according to the John Ball Zoo.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Noun
In the wild, pygmy hippos typically live between 25 and 30 years — making Hannah’s milestone all the more remarkable.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 21 Nov. 2025
The smallest snake in the state, the pygmy rattlesnake, packs a punch given its compact size.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Sep. 2025
The baby's arrival isn't just a big deal not only for the proud parents, but also for the zoo since this is the first pygmy hippo calf ever born there.
—Sarah Scanlan, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
What to know about pygmy hippos Pygmy hippos are native to West Africa, according to the John Ball Zoo.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pygmy
Adjective
-
Spanning 828 square feet, the diminutive house stands a block and a half from Long Branch Beach.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Tyrannosaurus rex did, in fact, have a diminutive relative in North America.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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La Selva always had caymans, but only the less aggressive and less territorial dwarf and white species.—
Noah Lederman,
Robb Report,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Recently, the Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of a dwarf galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The movie, which posits an impending nuclear strike on a major American city, is a flimsy yet high-minded piece of doomsday schlock, largely populated by ciphers in suits and drained of the pulp pleasures that schlock, at its best, can afford.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
14 Oct. 2025
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Such ciphers are easy to crack using techniques such as checking letter frequency and identifying common patterns.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The founders argue that automation should be accessible to smaller operators, including neighborhood bars and private event spaces.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
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There can be 30 minutes of small waves before a sneaker wave strikes.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Never place a wooden or battery-operated toy in the dishwasher.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Flywing avoids positioning the X-Wing Fighter as a casual toy.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Professional athletes, however, aren’t nobodies.—
Joe Kozlowski,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
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More importantly, the narrative explores both sides of the conflict from the POV of grunts and 'nobodies' trying to navigate the post-Civil War state of the galaxy before the fighting stops.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Dick is sympathetic to Leroy’s perspective, noting that being Black in the military means having your personal life scrutinized, which is little comfort for Charlotte.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
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Sketches such as last night’s Oval Office monologue compact the coal of the administration’s info dumps into little diamonds of comedy, freeing the writers and cast to pursue more escapist fare.—
Erik Adams,
The Atlantic,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Declining bat populations could have real consequences for us, given the important role bats play in insect control, seed dispersal, and pollination.—
NPR,
NPR,
8 Nov. 2025
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Outdoor treatments are designed to reduce mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting insects that can make backyards difficult to enjoy.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pygmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pygmy. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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