pygmy 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of pygmynext
as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average a pygmy elephant

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pygmy

2 of 2

noun

ˈpig-mē How to pronounce pygmy (audio)
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pygmy
Noun
Thanks to the popularity of Toni, Brötchen's older sister, Zoo Berlin raised more than $6,000 in a 2024 charity auction for pygmy hippo conservation efforts in Sierra Leone. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026 Tennessee is home to 32 species of snakes, but only four of them secrete venom — the copperhead, cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake and pygmy rattlesnake. — Jack Armstrong, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 3 June 2026 Pygmy rattlesnake Most adult dusky pygmy rattlesnakes are about 12 to 14 inches in length, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. — Sarah Perkel, USA Today, 3 June 2026 There’s also a sand pit where children can dig up replicas of pygmy mammoth bones. — Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pygmy
  1. diminutive
  2. dwarf
  3. cipher
  4. small
  5. toy
  6. nobody
  7. little
  8. insect
Adjective
  • White Water's diminutive cocktail bar has awesome bottled cocktails served in proper glassware that make for the perfect sundowner to carry across the boardwalk to soak up golden hour over the Pacific.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The true masters of diminutive camping vehicles hail from Japan and South Korea, but Wellhouse Leisure is quickly establishing itself as a master craftsman of western tiny camping.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminutive
Noun
  • When a larger galaxy pulls apart a smaller dwarf galaxy, the dwarf’s stars can stretch into a stream — a cosmic breadcrumb trail of that encounter.
    — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • To avoid this, sow dwarf crepe myrtles at least 4 to 6 feet apart, space standard-sized trees at least 8 feet from each other, and keep crepe myrtles of any size at least 3 feet away from fencing.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of dwarf
Noun
  • But in my view, our relationships to animals, whose lives are untouched by the existential woes and artifices of personhood, are the richest and most evident ciphers for our own often inscrutable psyches.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of cipher
Adjective
  • These vines will also happily wind their way around tree trunks and shrubs and fix themselves in place with small rootlets that take on a hairy appearance as poison ivy plants mature.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Tidy a corner and play a favorite song, letting a small routine remind everyone that care comes through simple, repeatable acts.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of small
Noun
  • Mattel is revamping its video game business with the launch of Mattel Game Studios, a division of the toy brand that will develop, publish and operate original interactive experiences inspired by Mattel IP.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Authorities in Washington, DC, shut down traffic in a residential neighborhood after an adult toy was discovered outside a fire station.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of toy
Noun
  • Yvonne and Nick’s disastrous wedding dinner is the day the cast went from nobodies to actual practitioners of the reality-television arts and sciences.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 July 2026
  • Despite the tragicomic instability and the rotating cast of nobodies temporarily tasked with running the country, when seen in macroeconomic terms, Peru appears to be doing just fine, thank you.
    — Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
Definition of nobody
Adjective
  • The opening of an Auberge Collection property in the little town of Los Olivos is further proof of the area's status as a preeminent New World wine destination.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
  • So far, none of those efforts has been successful, and opponents say hunting would do little to address the most problematic bears that tend to live closer to residential neighborhoods.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of little
Noun
  • Some of the most popular forms include peppermint oil diffusers, skin and hair care products, non-toxic insect and vermin repellants, natural cleaning products, dietary supplements and pure essential oil.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Few countries have felt the force of the insect’s impact quite like South Africa.
    — Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of insect

Browse Nearby Words

pygmies
pygmy
pyramid
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Cite this Entry

“Pygmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pygmy. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pygmy

Nglish: Translation of pygmy for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pygmy

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