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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of small
From his early days at a small Illinois station broadcasting out of a trailer to his decades in Los Angeles, Benson brought a unique warmth and humor to the airwaves.
—
Kennedy French, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
For a typical small operator in Connecticut, spending $500,000 on lab testing against $10,000,000 in top-line revenue is a crushing burden.
—Rino Ferrarese, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
Make a plan for an upcoming adventure, even if small.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
Unlike many European countries, Britain does not have a system of proportional representation, meaning that smaller parties have struggled to break through.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for small
Kennedy French, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
For a typical small operator in Connecticut, spending $500,000 on lab testing against $10,000,000 in top-line revenue is a crushing burden.
—Rino Ferrarese, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026
Make a plan for an upcoming adventure, even if small.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
Unlike many European countries, Britain does not have a system of proportional representation, meaning that smaller parties have struggled to break through.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for small
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small
Adjective
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After that 12-day war in June, Tehran was left with little negotiating leverage, its nuclear facilities heavily damaged, its proxies nearly neutralized and its economy in tatters.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
1 Mar. 2026
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Leading by five goals in Honduras after 45 minutes allowed for a full-strength performance over Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and little concern in the second leg against Real España, rotating numerous players ahead of the spring trip to Texas.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Other pushes Trump made in his speech have slimmer prospects of becoming law this year, such as his package of health care proposals that would redirect Affordable Care Act subsidies directly to consumers’ health savings accounts.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
25 Feb. 2026
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Designed with a double-breasted blazer construction, the blazer featured a slim, waist-defining fit with a clean, collarless double-breasted silhouette.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The driver of the GMC and a passenger were transported to Tahoe Forest Hospital with minor injuries, the CHP said.—
Daniel Hunt,
Sacbee.com,
28 Feb. 2026
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To the Guggenheim Partners owners, who bought the Lakers at a $10 billion valuation as an aside last year, these are minor matters.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Instead, Washington stages high-volume skirmishes over symbolic and petty conflicts.—
Jay Caruso,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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What begins as petty extortion turns into control of the local drug trade, as the girls style themselves as protectors of the poor and enemies of the corrupt.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Wearing a skin-tight black leather jumpsuit and futuristic sunglasses, with her tiny chihuahua, Pilaf, in her arms, the entire look felt straight from The Matrix, if that franchise added the character of a diminutive dog to the mix.—
Séraphine Roger,
Vanity Fair,
28 Feb. 2026
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Set a century before the events of Game of Thrones and 72 years after House of the Dragon, A Knight of Seven Kingdom follows two unlikely heroes wandering Westeros … a young, naïve but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), and his diminutive squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell).—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Even the relatively slight role of Elizabeth’s page Tebaldo gets splendid singing from Gretchen Krupp.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
28 Feb. 2026
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Those who ran the Cowtown 5k and 10k Saturday morning had a fabulous forecast, temperatures were in the low 60s with a few clouds in the sky and a slight breeze.—
Lauren Bostwick,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But equal time itself is narrower than many assume.—
Jay Caruso,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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This lamp has an ultraslim frame, ideal for a narrow bedroom or tight reading nook.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Even his tiny coffin was draped with a union jack.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
27 Feb. 2026
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The four treatment rooms look onto a tiny garden, and there's a 24-hour Technogym with full free weights, plus private studios for yoga and Pilates.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Small.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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