Definition of tinynext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word tiny distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of tiny are diminutive, little, miniature, minute, and small. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

When could diminutive be used to replace tiny?

While in some cases nearly identical to tiny, diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

When is little a more appropriate choice than tiny?

The meanings of little and tiny largely overlap; however, little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

When might miniature be a better fit than tiny?

The words miniature and tiny can be used in similar contexts, but miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When can minute be used instead of tiny?

Although the words minute and tiny have much in common, minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How do small and little relate to one another, in the sense of tiny?

Both small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

a relatively small backyard

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 tiny Speaking of quiet books, this collection of twenty-two vignettes paints summer on a tiny, isolated island in the Gulf of Finland. Literary Hub, 7 May 2026 Since the turn of the millennium, researchers have developed photonic-crystal lasers that are tiny, energy-efficient, highly controllable, and can emit very bright, narrow beams. IEEE Spectrum, 7 May 2026 My wife’s tiny 200-square-foot apartment was full of cousins and a sports reporter who slept on the hallway floor. Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026 The old sign has been lighted again as the tiny shop takes shape. Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tiny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tiny
Adjective
  • Laptops at this price range are as basic as can be, maybe not in features or software, but in hardware and specs, with minuscule amounts of RAM and weak, underpowered processors.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
  • Those figures, combined with much more existential climate crises like extreme weather, pollution and food insecurity, make eliminating a tour’s worth of plastic feel minuscule.
    Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Hantaviruses are groups of viruses – microscopic organisms that infect hosts – transmitted by mice and rats.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 7 May 2026
  • To protect the fragile ecosystem from invasive species large and microscopic, visitors are told to stay away from animals and to avoid touching the ground with anything but their feet.
    Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • The girls, buzzed on miniature cans of soda, lingered in the liminal space between rolling credits and parental pickup.
    Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • Prairie Plants to Try In addition to wildlife habitat and food, a miniature prairie delivers year-round texture and color variation.
    Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 3 May 2026
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

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Cite this Entry

“Tiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tiny. Accessed 12 May. 2026.

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