1
as in little
of a size that is less than average
a small cat who never weighed more than five pounds
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slim
small in degree
your chances of winning the lottery are so small that it's best not to count on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in minor
lacking importance
reluctant to bring such a small matter to the boss's attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in petty
not broad or open in views or opinions
townspeople who were helpful to one another but who also could be small and intolerant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of small
Of course, finding a way to pay homage to a movie that came to define a generation — without overdoing it — would be no small feat.
—
Angelique Jackson, Variety, 8 May 2026
Imagine taking a huge cloud of gas, and compressing much of that material down into just a few clumps that were much smaller in physical size.
—Big Think, 8 May 2026
Counters, small handful of brands, selling commission, prices not displayed, GWPs.
—Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
There are 57 rooms, each decorated in a contemporary palette of blues and yellows, with even the smallest rooms well presented with modern bathrooms and plenty of space.
—Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for small
Angelique Jackson, Variety, 8 May 2026
Imagine taking a huge cloud of gas, and compressing much of that material down into just a few clumps that were much smaller in physical size.
—Big Think, 8 May 2026
Counters, small handful of brands, selling commission, prices not displayed, GWPs.
—Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 8 May 2026
There are 57 rooms, each decorated in a contemporary palette of blues and yellows, with even the smallest rooms well presented with modern bathrooms and plenty of space.
—Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for small
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small
Adjective
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The hearts and minds of Braves players were on Bobby Cox on a sunny evening at Dodger Stadium before the middle game of a three-game series against the Dodgers — a game that meant very little, considering the news of the day.—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
10 May 2026
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The peas themselves are piled like cabochons over a thin pastry shell, dressed in a tart citrus vinaigrette and studded with slivers of pickled shallots that deliver bracing little sparks of brine against the crisp sweetness of the legumes.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
Adjective
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The hotel’s slim set of measured, crisp rooms draws a low-key crowd, ranging from honeymooners to city weekenders from Kuala Lumpur, all lounging with the same welcome, unpretentious ease of the hotel itself.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
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The list of pitchers to come off a second major elbow surgery and be themselves is slim.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
After seeking out a nearby fishmonger and calculating what this ingredient would cost me (a precious $30 per pound), I was left with a minor headache.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 May 2026
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Richards opened the season in Philadelphia’s minor-league system, made nine appearances at the Triple-A level, was called up to the parent club on April 30 and pitched twice for the Phillies before he was traded to the Sox on Tuesday.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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Of course, David went on to build one of the most illustrious careers in television with characters who are often arrogant, petty and unlikable by traditional media standards.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
8 May 2026
-
Middle school is, famously, a time of petty cruelty and small-scale social Darwinism.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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But after three games in the first round of the playoffs, with the Knicks down to the Atlanta Hawks, 2–1, Brown put Towns with the ball at the three-point line, and the diminutive Brunson darted toward the center.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
10 May 2026
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In New York, Kathy Butterly’s diminutive pieces sold out at James Cohan at $45,000 each.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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After the unremarkable Chip Kelly recruiting era, which begat a slight bump under DeShaun Foster, what first-year coach Bob Chesney has done, before coaching a game, has been downright remarkable.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
9 May 2026
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The video shows slight puffs of smoke from the Sea Star’s smokestack, and then darker smoke rising from it after the strike.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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Rebecca Green, a law professor and director of the Election Law Program at William & Mary Law School in Virginia, said the court there rejected the redistricting plan based on narrow grounds pertaining to Virginia law on amending the state Constitution, which doesn’t apply in California.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
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Their job is to create a fire line, clearing a narrow strip of land down to soil and removing flammable vegetation to help slow or stop the fire's spread.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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One new study looked at how the coloring of microplastics – the tiny bits of plastics found everywhere from our rivers to our brains – may actually be helping increase temperatures.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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The lab didn't take DNA samples from each fish, which can be done by clipping off a tiny bit of one fin.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Small.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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