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 For an executive tasked with anticipating and responding to climate policy, the regulatory patchwork within the United States has created a tiny needle to thread. Justin Worland, Time, 7 Aug. 2026 Punk, at least the version that mattered to me at fifteen, was a living, breathing thing—a lifestyle to encounter in a tiny basement club, in real time. Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026 Critics argue these legal battles, often against tiny businesses, damage Buc-ee's reputation for being a fun company. Allen Adamson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 The womb houses neither placenta nor umbilical cord, just a tiny fetus, feet down, hands covering its eyes. Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tiny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tiny
Adjective
  • In a third image, Bieber struck a silly pose with a drink atop her head, stunning in a minuscule black bikini and matching bucket hat.
    Christina Perrier, InStyle, 29 July 2026
  • Those minuscule amounts don’t make a major nutritional impact.
    Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 26 July 2026
Adjective
  • After a while, some of those parasites begin to differentiate into egg- and sperm-like forms, which combine to form new microscopic oocysts - a process that can happen millions of times at the height of infection.
    Pien Huang, NPR, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Scientists have found evidence that the planet once had water, the right chemical ingredients and nutrients needed to support microscopic life.
    Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
Adjective
  • While miniature portraits had grown in popularity before the advent of photography, Shushan estimates that only a dozen or so renowned artists were making eye portraits, including the painters George Engleheart and Richard Cosway.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The interior consists of one very large open space, dominated by oversized tabletops that host complex miniature battles.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Aug. 2026
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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tiny. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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