smallest

adjective

as in slightest
being the least in amount, number, or size possible severely reprimanded employees even for the smallest mistakes

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 smallest While that’s painful for house hunters, note that the surge was the 18th-smallest among states and trailed the 93% jump nationally. — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smallest
  1. minimum
  2. small
Adjective
  • According to Mwangi, the extension of the IPO offer as well as lowering the minimum investment were a response to low uptake among retail investors.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 14 Oct. 2026
  • YieldStar surveyed all leases for a particular floor plan and generated a pricing chart that included both a minimum and maximum rent based on the available data.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of minimum
Adjective
  • Comparing households aged 72 and older in 2022 with those aged 75 and older in 2025, Maggiulli calculated a smaller—but still substantial—21% increase.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The development could help make optical atomic clocks smaller and more suitable for use outside laboratories.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of small

Browse Nearby Words

smaller
smallest
small-fry
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Cite this Entry

“Smallest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smallest. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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