as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average
a pygmy elephant
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also pigmy
1
as in dwarf
a living thing much smaller than others of its kind
hummingbirds may be the pygmies of the avian world, but what they lack in size they make up for in beauty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in number
a person of no importance or influence
regrettably, most of the candidates for the party's nomination that year were political pygmies
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of pygmy
Calvin Milliner, ABC News, 27 Dec. 2024
Fewer than 2,500 mature pygmy hippos remain in the wild, according to the zoo.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 26 Dec. 2024
The zoo shared multiple images and a short video of the newborn pygmy hippo on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
Poppy was the name chosen for a newborn pygmy hippo at the Metro Richmond Zoo in Virginia after the zoo held an online contest to determine her name, with zoo officials saying Poppy won with 52.8% of the total votes.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pygmy 
Noun
Unlike common hippos, pygmy hippos do not live in groups and are usually solitary or in pairs.
—Calvin Milliner, ABC News, 27 Dec. 2024
Fewer than 2,500 mature pygmy hippos remain in the wild, according to the zoo.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 26 Dec. 2024
The zoo shared multiple images and a short video of the newborn pygmy hippo on its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
Poppy was the name chosen for a newborn pygmy hippo at the Metro Richmond Zoo in Virginia after the zoo held an online contest to determine her name, with zoo officials saying Poppy won with 52.8% of the total votes.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 7 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pygmy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pygmy
Adjective
-
Tribute Series Roadster The Shelby Cobra is one of the most revered and storied automotive models in history, a diminutive titan that made an indelible mark in both motorsport and sports-car culture upon its debut.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
22 Jan. 2025
-
Scale jumps from diminutive to oversized, often in a single room.—
Michael Boodro,
Architectural Digest,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Emperor tamarins are dwarf monkeys with whiskers that resemble a white moustache.—
Robert Higgs,
cleveland,
1 Feb. 2023
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The dwarf variety grows to be about 5 to 7 feet, ideal for a small garden or accent in a room with limited space.—
Bryce Jones,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Jan. 2023
Noun
-
The state says that only a small number of children live in long-term care facilities.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Experts said the number of births would likely continue to fluctuate.—
Alexandra Stevenson,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The photo showed small patches of raw, bloody skin on the knuckles of his index, middle and ring fingers on his left hand.—
Daniela Avila,
People.com,
25 Jan. 2025
-
The stems are bright green and covered in small spines that look like fuzz or hair.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Pour the sauce over and gently toss with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until the shrimp and avocado are thoroughly coated.—
Janelle Davis,
CNN,
7 Feb. 2023
-
Brine shrimp are a critical food source for the aquaculture industry.—
Evan Bush,
NBC News,
21 Jan. 2023
Noun
-
Tracking insect migration is not as straightforward as tracking birds or mammals.—
Saugat Bolakhe,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Jan. 2025
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The downy also can peck at galls or protrusions on goldenrod plants where insect eggs are lurking.—
Sheryl De Vore,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The summer of 2020 did little to allay those fears: Inexperienced intelligence officers from the agency were deployed to Portland, Ore., to compile dossiers on people protesting against police violence.—
Eileen Sullivan,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
-
The ensuing reply-all showed little sympathy for the ninety-five-year-old school and its community.—
Jessica Winter,
The New Yorker,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Most of the movie is a vaguely comical swipe at Napoleon in domestic life—an awkward lover, a jealous husband, an inveterate complainer, and in sum an annoying twerp.—
Kyle Smith,
WSJ,
21 Nov. 2023
-
Kind of a little twerp, now and again.—
Ashley Fetters Maloy,
Washington Post,
7 Nov. 2022
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Cite this Entry
“Pygmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pygmy. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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