Synonyms of diminutive

diminutive 1 of 2

adjective

as in small

of a size that is less than average

a single diminutive shrub on the edge of the lawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

• small
• little
• tiny
• pocket
• miniature
• puny
• fine
• smallish
• dinky
• slight
• dwarf
• undersized
• slender
• dwarfish
• pocket-size
• sparse
• undersize
• pygmy
• Lilliputian
• miniaturized
• pint-sized
• subnormal
• pocket-sized
• toylike
• half-pint
• poor
• pint-size
• shrimpy
• mini
• minuscule
• bantam
• stunted
• spare
• lacking
• microscopic
• microscopical
• insufficient
• micro
• inadequate
• bitty
• meager
• weeny
• teeny
• infinitesimal
• slim
• toy
• scrubby
• inappreciable
• wee
• meagre
• scarce
• teensy
• skimpy
• minim
• little bitty
• weensy
• stingy
• scant
• scanty
• runty
• minute
• pinpoint
• teeny-weeny
• teensy-weensy
• deficient
• minikin
• niggardly
• wanting
• capsule
• runtish
• bite-sized
• bite-size
• skimp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• large
• considerable
• sizeable
• substantial
• big
• handsome
• sizable
• outsized
• great
• oversized
• massive
• outsize
• bulky
• enormous
• goodly
• grand
• giant
• gigantic
• oversize
• husky
• huge
• voluminous
• vast
• hefty
• whopping
• tremendous
• prodigious
• gargantuan
• tidy
• immense
• colossal
• monstrous
• stupendous
• mountainous
• mammoth
• heroic
• gross
• humongous
• generous
• monumental
• monolithic
• cavernous
• largish
• abundant
• staggering
• jumbo
• herculean
• appreciable
• titanic
• biggish
• ample
• galactic
• plentiful
• copious
• liberal
• hulking
• cyclopean
• healthy
• bountiful
• overscaled
• wide
• king-sized
• boxcar
• thick
• broad
• overscale
• king-size
• elephantine
• plenteous
• whacking
• Himalayan
• humungous
• fat
• heroical
• Brobdingnagian
• adequate
• infinite
• sufficient
• leviathan
• cosmic
• immeasurable
• Bunyanesque
• pharaonic
• incalculable
• boundless
• enough
• cosmical

diminutive

2 of 2

noun

də-ˈmi-nyə-tiv 

as in dwarf

a living thing much smaller than others of its kind

dik-diks, the diminutives of the antelope family

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dwarf
• shrimp
• miniature
• midget
• pigmy
• mini
• runt
• scrub
• peewee
• pygmy
• Tom Thumb
• mite
• bantam
• mannikin
• nubbin
• half-pint
• homunculus
• manikin
• hop-o'-my-thumb

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• giant
• monster
• mammoth
• behemoth
• colossus
• jumbo
• whale
• titan
• leviathan
• whopper

Synonym Chooser

How is the word diminutive distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of diminutive are little, miniature, minute, small, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

When can little be used instead of diminutive?

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

your pathetic little smile

When would miniature be a good substitute for diminutive?

While in some cases nearly identical to diminutive, miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When might minute be a better fit than diminutive?

In some situations, the words minute and diminutive are roughly equivalent. However, minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How are the words small and little related as synonyms of diminutive?

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

a relatively small backyard

How do tiny and minute relate to one another, in the sense of diminutive?

Tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of diminutive

Adjective

Kim Gordon: Most Pointed! Image With her Celine suit, the Sonic Youth singer and bassist wore a pointy and playful accessory: diminutive silvery horns poking out from her short blond waves. —The Styles Desk, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2025

The diminutive second baseman earned one American League MVP Award, one AL Rookie of the Year Award, four AL Gold Glove Awards and four All-Star Game appearances. —Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025

Noun

Meaning: Miley is often considered a diminutive of the name Miles, but can also refer to singer Miley Cyrus. —Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2025

Surely someone that diminutive will just be a scrambler who chases down balls and loops them back until the sun sets. Wrong. —The Athletic Staff, The Athletic, 9 July 2024