small

adjective

ˈsmȯl How to pronounce small (audio)
Definition of smallnext
1
as in little
of a size that is less than average a small cat who never weighed more than five pounds

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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

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3
as in minor
lacking importance reluctant to bring such a small matter to the boss's attention

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4
as in narrow
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

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

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 Democrats still have an advantage in voting by mail, but that gap is smaller than in 2022 as more Democrats shift to early in-person voting. — A Martínez, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026 But in the eight years since that location opened its doors, the brand has grown, and the mall has evolved from small art galleries into a vintage mecca. — Max Berlinger, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026 Growing support for the arts in small town America, funded by philanthropists including the Carnegie Foundation, created more opportunities for Wood to make work that felt characteristic of his region. — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Closer to Sacramento, only small pockets of western Yolo County and Solano County near the Napa County line are at risk. — Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for small
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small
  1. little
  2. slim
  3. minor
  4. narrow
  5. diminutive
  6. slight
  7. petty
  8. tiny
Adjective
  • Here's where the high diesel prices add up tough – what little hay there is, is a lot more expensive to harvest.
    — Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The prince didn’t have any luck in blocking Kelce, which comes as little surprise given the Chiefs star knows how to avoid defensive players.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of little
Adjective
  • In contrast, the slim, circular tabletop keeps the design feeling light and airy despite measuring a generous 16 inches across.
    — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Baseball rosters are large and unwieldy; the margins between success and failure are slim and hard to control for.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of slim
Adjective
  • Charlie Weasley is a minor character in the books and does not appear in the films, so the HBO series is straying from the movies regarding Ron Weasley’s older brother.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026
  • If winner is deemed to be a minor under the jurisdiction of his/her residence, the prize will be awarded in the name of his/her parent or legal guardian who must execute the necessary affidavit and release and, if applicable,.
    — Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of minor
Adjective
  • Those qualities are attractive, but concentrating exclusively on them directs many investors toward the same narrow set of service companies.
    — Chris Russo, Sportico.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The winning architecture is a stack of narrow intelligences pointed at what each one is good at, coordinated through a harness that knows which one to use when.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • The evening, co-hosted by Vanity Fair, marked a continuation in the film’s already lengthy journey, with a suitably ambitious exhibition pulling back the curtain on costumes, puppets, props and diminutive sets.
    — Bridget Arsenault, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The Lucre mules are crafted in butter-soft kid suede in a dark midnight shade and have the most diminutive toe strap holding the shoe in place.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of diminutive
Adjective
  • And while there are slight deviations between Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Millennial shopping habits, Gen Z appears to be changing the game altogether.
    — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Made from 98-percent cotton and 2-percent spandex, these pants have a slight stretch to them along with functional front and back pockets.
    — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of slight
Adjective
  • The other was Albrecht Hohler, thirty, a Communist member of the paramilitary group the Red Front Fighters and well known locally as a particularly vicious thug—a petty criminal who had been released from jail only a few months earlier.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Here, the book loosens its grip on its wholesome view of the Westish clique, letting its characters do several ugly and petty and longed-for things—letting them, in other words, grow up.
    — Emma Alpern, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of petty
Adjective
  • Researchers implant pairs of tiny magnets into a muscle and position external sensors over the skin.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
  • To stretch your legs, grab one of the resort’s bikes and take the half-hour ride on the narrow, largely traffic-free dirt road down to Punto Allen, a tiny fishing village with a picturesque lighthouse.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of tiny

Phrases Containing small

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smacks (of)
small
small arm
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Cite this Entry

“Small.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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