as in small
of a size that is less than average
a smallish row of bushes lining the yard
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Recent Examples of smallish
By 1900, the Irish-speaking areas were a ragged patchwork of smallish standalone zones, clinging to the island’s western and southern shores.
—
Big Think, 4 May 2026
So moving Stankoven to the middle in training camp certainly raised the eyebrows of many, especially considering Carolina has several other smallish players among its forward corps.
—Cory Lavalette, New York Times, 1 May 2026
That’s roughly the mass of a smallish rocky asteroid, perhaps four or five kilometers in diameter.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
In general, vegetables should be sliced or cut into smallish pieces and precooked.
—Georgeanne Brennan, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
However, a lot of big houses have been built on smallish lots.
—Richard Dahlberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Texas has tightened up its defense at the rim against a smallish NC State squad that likes to drive to the cup.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 18 Mar. 2026
The upstairs room, a supper club, is smallish and cheaply finished; the food is an afterthought, the party never-starting.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Most open up to a smallish balcony, just big enough for a book and coffee.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Big Think, 4 May 2026
So moving Stankoven to the middle in training camp certainly raised the eyebrows of many, especially considering Carolina has several other smallish players among its forward corps.
—Cory Lavalette, New York Times, 1 May 2026
That’s roughly the mass of a smallish rocky asteroid, perhaps four or five kilometers in diameter.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
In general, vegetables should be sliced or cut into smallish pieces and precooked.
—Georgeanne Brennan, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
However, a lot of big houses have been built on smallish lots.
—Richard Dahlberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Texas has tightened up its defense at the rim against a smallish NC State squad that likes to drive to the cup.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 18 Mar. 2026
The upstairs room, a supper club, is smallish and cheaply finished; the food is an afterthought, the party never-starting.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Most open up to a smallish balcony, just big enough for a book and coffee.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smallish
Adjective
-
August 23 – September 22 One small fix today could make everything run better.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
These mad scientists then trained a small flock of sheep to recognize four celebrities—Emma Watson, Barack Obama, Jake Gyllenhaal, and the BBC newsreader Fiona Bruce—from their pictures on the internet.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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The diminutive vehicle isn’t a weakling, either.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
29 Apr. 2026
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Yet the dark and moody diminutive space, designed with every detail carefully considered, feels airy and light, in no small part thanks to the thoughtful staff who bring life and a sense of place.—
Louisa Kung Liu Chu,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Rust spores overwinter in leaf debris and infect new foliage in spring with as little as two to four hours of moisture.—
Rita Perwich,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 May 2026
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But certain elements of the package, such as a proposal to expand mayoral authority, received little direct attention during Thursday’s public comment.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
2 May 2026
Adjective
-
One new study looked at how the coloring of microplastics – the tiny bits of plastics found everywhere from our rivers to our brains – may actually be helping increase temperatures.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
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The lab didn't take DNA samples from each fish, which can be done by clipping off a tiny bit of one fin.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smallish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smallish. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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