1
as in little
of a size that is less than average a small cat who never weighed more than five pounds

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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a small amount
a tiny amount
an insignificant amount
a minimal amount
a trivial amount
a modest amount
a small town
a quaint town
a rural town
a little town
a tiny town
a rustic town
small changes
minor changes
subtle changes
slight changes
incremental changes
trivial changes
small pieces
minuscule pieces
manageable pieces
little pieces
fine pieces

Synonym Chooser

How is the word small distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of small are diminutive, little, miniature, minute, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

a relatively small backyard

In what contexts can diminutive take the place of small?

In some situations, the words diminutive and small are roughly equivalent. However, diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

When can little be used instead of small?

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

your pathetic little smile

When could miniature be used to replace small?

The words miniature and small 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 is it sensible to use minute instead of small?

The words minute and small are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

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

Tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

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 small Indeed, during this period, the very notion of Palestinian Arab nationalism was nascent and, as the historian Yehoshua Porath has pointed out, largely confined to a small minority of literate Arab Christians. Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025 Thought of as the smaller cousin, pygmy hippos are about half the size of common hippos, weighing less than one-fourth of a full-sized common hippo, according to the Pygmy Hippo Foundation. Greta Cross, USA Today, 6 June 2025 The small harbor tugboat tows vessels to and from the Marine Group’s boat lift piers and docks. Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025 That most recently included TikTok star Griffin Johnson, who was given a small ownership stake in Derby and Preakness horse Sandman. Spencer Ripchik, Baltimore Sun, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for small
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small
Adjective
  • Mia said she was kept off-kilter working around the clock for Combs with little sleep.
    Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2025
  • In Madrid, little is known about Bellingham’s social life.
    Gregg Evans, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • For those who aren’t seeking beach time, the island also was praised for offering historic sites, golf courses and other off-shore activities.
    Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 3 June 2025
  • After an off day Thursday, the Arizona Diamondbacks come to GABP for three games.
    C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Adjective
  • Troopers said the two boys were hospitalized with minor injuries.
    Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 27 May 2025
  • Ambulances took 27 people to the hospital, including two with serious injuries, and another 20 people were treated at the scene for minor injuries, said Dave Kitchin of North West Ambulance Service.
    Brian Melley, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025
Adjective
  • The lives of these accomplished, seemingly independent women revolve around men, petty antics and low-stakes squabbles.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 May 2025
  • But the most powerful response isn’t rage or petty retaliation.
    Suneeta Motala, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
Adjective
  • Their double act had begun at secondary school, in North London, where Mulcahy protected the diminutive Duffy from bullies.
    Sarah Beckwith, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
  • With that hardware, the diminutive DGX Spark will produce 1,000 trillion operations per second (TOPS) when working on AI tasks, vastly outperforming consumer AI PCs' 40-50 TOPS.
    Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • The bill faced opposition from fiscal conservatives but ultimately passed in the House last week and is now before the Senate, where Republicans also hold a slim majority.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 29 May 2025
  • Don’t let its slim, 5-pound design fool you — this lightweight vacuum is equipped with three suction modes that can tackle floor-to-ceiling messes for up to 65 minutes, according to the brand.
    Clara McMahon, People.com, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • Injuries can range from a slight stretching of the ligament to a complete tear, where the knee becomes unstable.
    Paul McClure May 31, New Atlas, 31 May 2025
  • By virtue of no state income tax, Florida, Tampa Bay, Vegas, Dallas and Nashville do enjoy a slight competitive advantage, but the first 14 Cup champions of the cap era didn’t share that same edge.
    Murat Ates, New York Times, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • The third barrier to advancement Hamilton mentioned is risk aversion, and the fourth is parochial services.
    John Werner, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
  • Prevost spent nearly two decades in missionary service in Peru, beginning in 1985 with roles such as parochial vicar and chancellor in Chulucanas, and later director of formation for Augustinian aspirants in Trujillo.
    Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 11 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Small.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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