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
  • The Heat also could give three players minimum deals - or two players minimum deals and one player $5 million - and open the season with the full 15 players.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
  • Adult rides, for example, do not have age restrictions, but riders below the minimum height specifications are not permitted to board the ride.
    — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026
Definition of minimum
Adjective
  • The division charged with keeping a handle on parasitic diseases had already been small, with only a few employees designated to parasite work.
    — Blake Ellis, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • When states lose the authority to set their own food safety and agricultural standards, consumers and small farmers pay the price.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 19 July 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 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on smallest

Nglish: Translation of smallest for Spanish Speakers

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