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
  • Another option is an offer to reduce the minimum payment amount as well as the interest rate.
    — Elliot Raphaelson, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The poverty line is the minimum level of income a person or family needs to be able to cover basic living needs, such as food, clothing and shelter.
    — Jen Cole Wright, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of minimum
Adjective
  • They were first popularized in Georgian England as small tokens of affection, infatuation or mourning, and examples are scattered across major museums such as the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Potential monetary policy task force recommendations may involve less transparent communication, a smaller balance sheet with stability risks, and inflation metrics that produce a lower reading.
    — David Zhang, Forbes.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of small

Browse Nearby Words

smaller
smallest
small-fry
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Smallest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smallest. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on smallest

Nglish: Translation of smallest for Spanish Speakers

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