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miniature

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noun

as in reproduction
an exact representation of something in greatly reduced size a diorama filled with miniatures of town buildings as they looked in the 19th century

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word miniature distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of miniature are diminutive, little, minute, small, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When might diminutive be a better fit than miniature?

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

diminutive bonsai plants

When can little be used instead of miniature?

The synonyms little and miniature are sometimes interchangeable, but little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

In what contexts can minute take the place of miniature?

The words minute and miniature can be used in similar contexts, but 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 miniature?

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

a relatively small backyard

How are the words tiny and minute related as synonyms of miniature?

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 miniature
Adjective
Dress the counters with a nutcracker doll and small trees adorned with miniature ornaments. Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Dec. 2024 These small gift bags are ideal for miniature gifts like candles, stationery, jewelry, and more. Madison Yauger, People.com, 15 Dec. 2024
Noun
That’s right: Make use of that miniature can of hairspray in your purse for more than just flyaways! Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2024 Collins, 73, a retired preschool teacher, creates the dioramas, making and arranging miniatures within shadow boxes made by her husband, Eddie Lewis. Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for miniature 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
Adjective
  • Cook until tiny bubbles appear around the edge of the pan and wisps of steam come off the surface of the milk.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2024
  • There’s still time to catch the craftsmanship of artist Laura Busse Dolan of Applied Imagination for this year’s show, featuring 25 intricate model trains of different eras traversing a tiny New York City scene constructed of natural materials.
    Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 26 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Advertisement Their population rebounded from the brink of extinction thanks to the banning of DDT in 1972 and successful campaigns to protect their habitat and encourage their reproduction.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2024
  • This fusion allows the virus to release its DNA or RNA into the host cell, initiating reproduction.
    Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • In other words, the chances of being called into an IRS office are minuscule for most individual taxpayers.
    Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 31 Dec. 2024
  • The term may make the mistakes seem almost innocuous, but in some applications, even a minuscule error rate can have severe ramifications.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Simulating Natural And Human-Made Systems Digital twin technology can be leveraged to build digital replicas of Earth systems—both natural and human-built environments.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
  • The Cottage Interior From a classic sloped ceiling to the iconic bathtub, Small focused on the details to get the replica as close to the real deal as possible.
    Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The same Montana lab that tried infecting imitation human brain tissue with CWD published a paper that maps the bottom of the CWD prion.
    Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 25 Dec. 2024
  • Interestingly, even the imitation itself can be classed as a copied behavior.
    Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • The Patek operation is both artisanal and impressively industrialized—beginning with the CNC machines that pump, cut, stamp, and form, among other things, cases, bracelets, and the hundreds of minuscule components that comprise even the most basic Patek model.
    Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 23 Dec. 2024
  • The most common model in the United States was the highly successful iTunes Store, which allowed listeners to purchase both albums and single tracks, abiding by a rough dollar-per-song value inherited from the age of LPs and CDs.
    Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near miniature

Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on miniature

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