Synonyms of small

small

adjective

ˈsmȯl 

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

• little
• diminutive
• tiny
• pocket
• fine
• slight
• smallish
• miniature
• sparse
• puny
• dinky
• dwarf
• slender
• pocket-size
• undersized
• mini
• poor
• dwarfish
• pygmy
• subnormal
• minuscule
• spare
• half-pint
• Lilliputian
• stunted
• miniaturized
• lacking
• microscopic
• shrimpy
• pint-size
• toylike
• micro
• bantam
• insufficient
• inadequate
• teeny
• infinitesimal
• toy
• scarce
• teensy
• bitty
• slim
• wee
• meager
• scrubby
• minim
• scant
• skimpy
• scanty
• little bitty
• minute
• inappreciable
• pinpoint
• weeny
• stingy
• teeny-weeny
• wanting
• teensy-weensy
• runty
• deficient
• capsule
• runtish
• minikin
• bite-size
• skimp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• large
• big
• substantial
• considerable
• sizable
• great
• massive
• huge
• handsome
• grand
• enormous
• goodly
• vast
• bulky
• giant
• gigantic
• oversize
• tidy
• outsize
• whopping
• tremendous
• husky
• voluminous
• hefty
• immense
• mountainous
• largish
• colossal
• gross
• monumental
• gargantuan
• mammoth
• prodigious
• generous
• monolithic
• monstrous
• ample
• cavernous
• stupendous
• appreciable
• heroic
• abundant
• biggish
• jumbo
• staggering
• healthy
• galactic
• plentiful
• liberal
• titanic
• wide
• copious
• herculean
• boxcar
• bountiful
• broad
• thick
• Himalayan
• humongous
• king-size
• overscale
• whacking
• fat
• plenteous
• hulking
• elephantine
• sufficient
• adequate
• infinite
• enough
• cyclopean
• Brobdingnagian
• cosmic
• leviathan
• pharaonic
• immeasurable
• incalculable
• boundless
• Bunyanesque

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

• slim
• slight
• negligible
• outside
• remote
• fragile
• tiny
• off
• marginal
• minimal
• minor
• little
• frail

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• large
• good
• great
• significant
• distinct
• substantial
• considerable
• sizable
• healthy
• respectable
• largish
• goodly
• tidy

3

as in minor

lacking importance

reluctant to bring such a small matter to the boss's attention

Synonyms & Similar Words

• minor
• little
• slight
• trivial
• insignificant
• unimportant
• worthless
• negligible
• inconsiderable
• trifling
• incidental
• inconsequential
• petty
• minute
• frivolous
• foolish
• small-fry
• Mickey Mouse
• nugatory
• neither here nor there
• fiddling
• one-horse
• obscure
• anonymous
• small-time
• unknown
• jerkwater
• paltry
• nameless
• nickel-and-dime
• uncelebrated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• major
• big
• important
• substantial
• significant
• meaningful
• momentous
• weighty
• fatal
• dominant
• consequential
• decisive
• principal
• prominent
• eventful
• material
• chief
• remarkable
• outstanding
• impressive
• distinctive
• valuable
• fateful
• exceptional
• great
• overriding
• worthy
• overbearing
• worthwhile
• unfrivolous
• distinguished
• basic
• famous
• eminent
• prestigious
• fundamental
• key
• illustrious
• essential
• notorious
• overmastering
• renowned
• all-important
• preeminent

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

• petty
• narrow
• parochial
• little
• provincial
• insular
• stubborn
• sectarian
• Lilliputian
• narrow-minded
• picayune
• rigid
• limited
• small-minded
• illiberal
• partial
• partisan
• obstinate
• wrongheaded
• bigoted
• ironbound
• discriminatory
• biased
• obdurate
• intolerant
• discriminating
• opinionated
• reactionary
• stodgy
• unsophisticated
• inflexible
• old-fashioned
• dogmatic
• unyielding
• straitlaced
• hidebound
• set
• opinionative
• prejudiced
• jaundiced
• one-sided
• stuffy
• brassbound
• hick

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• open
• liberal
• receptive
• cosmopolitan
• tolerant
• catholic
• objective
• impartial
• unbiased
• unprejudiced
• nonpartisan
• broad-minded
• open-minded
• freethinking

Synonym Chooser

How is the word small distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of small are diminutive, little, miniature, minute, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

a relatively small backyard

In what contexts can diminutive take the place of small?

In some situations, the words diminutive and small are roughly equivalent. However, diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

When can little be used instead of small?

The meanings of little and small largely overlap; however, little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

When could miniature be used to replace small?

The words miniature and small can be used in similar contexts, but miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When is it sensible to use minute instead of small?

The words minute and small are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How are the words tiny and minute related as synonyms of small?

Tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of small

For small hospitals, the financial burden of maintaining obstetric services can be prohibitive. —Jocelyn Mitchell-Williams, STAT, 19 June 2026

The haul is the latest sign of the financial juggernaut Ossoff has built around small-dollar fundraising. —Adam Beam, AJC.com, 19 June 2026

Cape Verde’s flight paths For its World Cup debut, the smallest nation by population at the tournament is paying homage to the roughly 525,000 inhabitants who live on 10 volcanic islands off the coast of Africa. —Steve Douglas, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026

Swimming in the small lap pool or having drinks on the sunken deck around the campfire? —Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 19 June 2026

Phrases Containing small

• small arm
• small beer
• small change
• small talk