little 1 of 3

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as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average the petting zoo has a little horse in addition to all of the goats and sheep

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

little

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adverb

little

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word little distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of little are diminutive, miniature, minute, small, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

When is diminutive a more appropriate choice than little?

Although the words diminutive and little have much in common, diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

In what contexts can miniature take the place of little?

The synonyms miniature and little are sometimes interchangeable, but miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When would minute be a good substitute for little?

The words minute and little can be used in similar contexts, but minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How are the words small and little related?

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 little?

Tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

Examples 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 little
Adjective
My little study of condo prices demonstrates that every single mortgage loan in this country is like walking into a casino and betting one’s future on red or black on the roulette wheel. Roger Valdez, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025 The grand tourer had a lot to live up to but had little trouble doing so thanks to its sleek exterior and potent Colombo V-12. Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 6 Jan. 2025
Adverb
Sterling was little changed against the dollar on Friday morning, after sustaining losses against the greenback on both Wednesday and Thursday. Karen Gilchrist,chloe Taylor, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2024 That was his only real ambition growing up on the Lansdowne Estate in Sheffield, his horizons and dreams stretching little further than Bramall Lane half a mile away. Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
But what if your littles have five years between them, like ours—or if your family included an even broader age range? Tanveer Badal, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Dec. 2024 Some sea creatures manifest that may frighten the littles. Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 26 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for little 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for little
Adjective
  • In short, alcohol affects almost every organ and tissue in the body, including the brain, heart, lungs, liver, stomach, and more.
    Cassie Shortsleeve, SELF, 3 Jan. 2025
  • On the short spring night of May 11, 1943, Szmul Zygielbojm—a Jewish Polish exile in despair—sat down and typed three letters in his flat, overlooking Porchester Square, near Paddington Station, in London.
    Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Reata at the Rodeo, a smaller but no less impressive version of the Southwestern steakhouse in downtown Fort Worth, will open at 11 a.m. Jan. 17 and will serve all day most days.
    Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Does this mean that community and small banks will struggle?
    Michael Abbott, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Republicans are weighing their big ambitions, limited time and narrow House and Senate majorities.
    Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 13 Jan. 2025
  • But there are big stumbling blocks, including the narrow window to reach a deal and the widely varied value of the app.
    Auzinea Bacon, CNN, 13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Smoke-eaters had a chance to gain the upper hand on Sunday with a brief break in the winds but the National Weather Service warned that powerful gusts could soon return.
    Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2025
  • Firefighters made some progress against ongoing fires overnight to Saturday morning, thanks to a brief reprieve from gusty winds.
    Emma Bowman, NPR, 12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The former linebacker worked through some traffic on a celebratory sideline and, with Washington in his sights, launched himself at the diminutive safety.
    Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
  • In ways large and small, the diminutive Hollywood veteran set the tone.
    Rob Marriott, VIBE.com, 30 Dec. 2024
Adverb
  • People focused solely on short-term perks rarely align with a long-term vision.
    Sergii Malomuzh, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
  • Jackson rarely stopped moving throughout the show and even allowed a live feed camera into her dressing room while she briefly got touched up before the encore.
    Mark Gray, People.com, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • There’s a even bit of Austin Burke’s salesmanship character in Sager, who has plugged the store on The Happy Customer Channel on YouTube or on frequent radio commercials and as a guest on Big 105.9.
    Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Skits are one-joke bits done in grade school or by guys at the Rotary Club.
    Susan Morrison, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • According to authorities, the tiny monkey will soon arrive at the Oakland Zoo for additional care.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 2 Jan. 2025
  • Now, as Musk inadvertently sent the price of a tiny bitcoin rival soaring by 2,000%, X chief executive Linda Yaccarino has quietly confirmed payments will be coming to the social media platform in 2025.
    Billy Bambrough, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near little

Cite this Entry

“Little.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/little. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on little

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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