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
Their father, George Atkinson, spent his entire career playing an aggressive, menacing style of football that belied his smallish 6-foot, 180-pound frame.
—
Jon Becker, Mercury News, 27 Oct. 2025
This season, Yamamoto has demonstrated not only consistency but also durability, no minor feat considering his smallish frame.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
The payout is often electronic, although smallish amounts can be in cash.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2025
Other than Costner, the show was largely populated with relatively unknown actors — Costner was clearly the big fish in this smallish pond.
—Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2025
An audience that paid $300-600 for tickets to see him in an uncharacteristically smallish venue would have expected — and got — a little more for their money than that.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
The building has kept some of this lightness of feeling all these years later, smallish and airy, its multiple exits and entrances providing the possibility of spontaneity.
—Katie Da Cunha Lewin
september 26, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
Because of its smallish size, Kentucky’s capital (population 28,000) is a city where neighborliness and politics go hand in hand.
—Robin Roenker, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
Even though this smallish island was a fraction of the size of France, its capital markets enabled it to successfully finance its global contest with France, whose crude financial system was a severe handicap in financing those wars.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Jon Becker, Mercury News, 27 Oct. 2025
This season, Yamamoto has demonstrated not only consistency but also durability, no minor feat considering his smallish frame.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2025
The payout is often electronic, although smallish amounts can be in cash.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2025
Other than Costner, the show was largely populated with relatively unknown actors — Costner was clearly the big fish in this smallish pond.
—Peter Kiefer, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2025
An audience that paid $300-600 for tickets to see him in an uncharacteristically smallish venue would have expected — and got — a little more for their money than that.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
The building has kept some of this lightness of feeling all these years later, smallish and airy, its multiple exits and entrances providing the possibility of spontaneity.
—Katie Da Cunha Lewin
september 26, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
Because of its smallish size, Kentucky’s capital (population 28,000) is a city where neighborliness and politics go hand in hand.
—Robin Roenker, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2025
Even though this smallish island was a fraction of the size of France, its capital markets enabled it to successfully finance its global contest with France, whose crude financial system was a severe handicap in financing those wars.
—Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smallish
Adjective
-
Add the ginger during the last minute of cooking, then transfer the mixture to a small bowl and set aside.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Martin knocked on the hunter’s small tent.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Tyrannosaurus rex did, in fact, have a diminutive relative in North America.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
30 Oct. 2025
-
That means the diminutive van measures in at a hair under 340 cm (134 in) long, roughly 59 cm (23 in) shorter than the original 2023 Toyota Kayoibako.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Inside, two picnic tables were stacked on top of each other, leaving little room to climb.—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
During last week's episode, viewers saw Dylan dance with his little sister, Olivia, for Dedication Night on.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Earth, a tiny target in the vastness of space, would often be spared from being hit by these magnetic projectiles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Sometimes changing the world starts with a tiny needle.—
Barbara Bry,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smallish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smallish. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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