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 The answer awaits at a tiny, magical shop on the Upper East Side. New York Times, 31 July 2026 The tiny Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla sit on the northern shores of Morocco’s Mediterranean coast. Jamie Timson, TheWeek, 31 July 2026 During these trainings, staff at the INL can be seen picking up a tiny bits of rounded black glass from a worktable using a vacuum cleaner with a specialized attachment. Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026 In a single day, some 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s tiny Ceuta enclave, overwhelming the city, leaving thousands homeless and at least 41 people dead. Sergio Rodrigo Ruíz, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tiny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tiny
Adjective
  • The minuscule particles can lead to breathing problems like bronchitis and cause inflammation that aggravates diabetes, heart disease and other health conditions.
    Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • Scientists at Aalto University in Finland have built the world’s first cyclic heat engine, operating inside a superconducting circuit and using a minuscule amount of heat from a quantum refrigerator to convert it into useful work.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 13 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
  • Their surfaces are filled with miniature figures, mythical creatures and motifs drawn from Chinese mythology, inviting close observation.
    Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • The newest high-tech weapon in the endless war against the world’s deadliest killer is a miniature hunter-killer drone that chops mosquitoes out of mid-air.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 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

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Cite this Entry

“Tiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tiny. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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