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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in off
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
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 small
The smaller tote bag has a pass-through strap on the back that slips over the spinner’s telescopic handle for convenient stacking.
—
Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025
Born in a small village in 1909, or perhaps 1912, the son of a goldsmith and his senior wife, Nkrumah was quiet but charismatic—good at schoolwork, even better at persuading people to believe in him.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Eat slowly and in smaller portions.
—Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 6 Oct. 2025
Bissell Little Green Mini Machine Upholstery Cleaner Everyone’s favorite steam cleaner, Bissell’s Little Green Machine, now has a smaller sister model that debuted earlier this year.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for small
Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025
Born in a small village in 1909, or perhaps 1912, the son of a goldsmith and his senior wife, Nkrumah was quiet but charismatic—good at schoolwork, even better at persuading people to believe in him.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Eat slowly and in smaller portions.
—Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 6 Oct. 2025
Bissell Little Green Mini Machine Upholstery Cleaner Everyone’s favorite steam cleaner, Bissell’s Little Green Machine, now has a smaller sister model that debuted earlier this year.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for small
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small
Adjective
-
Shane Hubbard, a UW-Madison research scientist specializing in damage and loss estimation from disasters, said that misunderstandings of what type of insurance offers the most protection result in homeowners being left with hefty bills and little government assistance.—
Tamia Fowlkes,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The clues have been there from the start, the little touches that aligned Grasso’s bifurcated personality with Tom and Robbie’s.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The first signs that 2025 wouldn’t live up to Ferrari’s off-season hopes emerged in testing, when McLaren teased its advantage.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Perhaps not, and that was attributable to some of his off-field pursuits, as sports journalist Devin Gordon explains in one episode.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Russell’s crash in 2023 showed that a minor mistake can wipe you off the podium.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
In susceptible people, the immune system reacts too strongly to minor exposures, creating chronic inflammation.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But for his wife, the damage is deeper than a petty argument over a pet.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Throughout the summer, Joanne leads her lovable, chaotic crew through a season of strikeouts, petty rivalries, conservative-politician sponsors, and sexy carwash fundraisers gone wrong.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Skeet is a diminutive figure with short, gray hair, and a round face with prominent cheeks.—
Mitch Moxley,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Thankfully, most garages will accommodate both, as these are diminutive vehicles when compared to any American iron of the era.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The slim design has clear crystals on the dial and a two-tone gold and stainless steel bracelet.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Naughton wore a black ensemble to the event that bared her midriff, and her cheekbones stood out in the photos posted due to her slimmer face.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
They are made of cotton with a slight stretch, but still have structure in the front.—
Chaunie Brusie,
Parents,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Herro was an All-Star last year while Ball wasn’t; Herro’s injury gives the Hornets a slight edge in these rankings.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Aquila served as a parochial vicar in two parishes from 1976 to 1982 and then as pastor at Denver’s Guardian Angels Parish from 1982 to 1987.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Or if that is not parochial enough, there are some decent Carabao Cup ties on Tuesday, with Manchester United’s conquerors Grimsby Town going to Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace hosting Millwall, a replay of last season’s bruising FA Cup clash.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Small.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share