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 Videos went viral on TikTok, with fans of the show joking about its teeny-tiny size. Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2025 Neurons rely on endocytosis, the recycling of tiny vesicles that carry neurotransmitters. New Atlas, 8 Nov. 2025 Delicate purple, white, or lavender-pink flowers are embedded among tiny, glistening leaves. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025 Live large and move into a tiny home today. Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tiny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tiny
Adjective
  • The amount of space between garden soil particles is so minuscule that container plants struggle to send their roots into it and extract nutrients from it.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Budgets for these projects are minuscule (generally, $100,000 to $300,000 per series), and platforms release a lot of them, experimenting to see what resonates with viewers.
    Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Near those boundaries, microscopic changes in pace or line flip the result, explaining why near-identical putts can alternate between agony and ecstasy.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Microneedling, also a popular cosmetic procedure, creates microscopic punctures in the skin to produce a similar effect, but does not use radiofrequency.
    Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The crowd continued cheering for minutes, even-handed in volume but consistent nonetheless, until Lee reemerged with a miniature curtsey, just barely hiding the biggest grin of the night.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
  • When the time comes, the females deliver live, miniature toads instead of laying eggs in water.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • At a time when the Mavericks need as much good will, or PR, as possible, filing a lawsuit against the Dallas Stars is petty, small and mean.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Nov. 2025
  • The Senate vote to temporarily reopen the government sparked intense controversy within the Democratic Party, as a small group of its senators joined Republicans in backing a deal that did not guarantee the extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, a key Democratic priority.
    Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tiny. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on tiny

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