tiny

adjective

ti·​ny ˈtī-nē 

tinier; tiniest

: very small or diminutive : minute

tinily

ˈtī-nə-lē 

adverb

tininess

ˈtī-nē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• minuscule
• miniature
• microscopic
• small

Choose the Right Synonym for tiny

small, little, diminutive, minute, tiny, miniature 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

little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

Examples of tiny in a Sentence

The computer chips were tiny.

He's from a tiny town that you've probably never heard of.

There's just one tiny little problem.

Aren't you even a tiny bit scared?

Recent Examples on the Web

With the World Cup coming to Kansas City next summer, the atmosphere at Power & Light this weekend could be a tiny glimpse of what’s to come. —Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 20 Sep. 2025

This archipelago, with one main island and hundreds of tiny islands, is reachable via a multi-hour ferry ride or seaplane from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and northern Minnesota. —Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2025

The base has tiny holes for air circulation and humidity control, keeping whole, unpeeled garlic bulbs fresh for weeks. —Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2025

Rooting them on Most of the giant sequoia’s root system is made up of tiny, threadlike feeders that spread out from the larger roots near the trunk. —Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English tine

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing tiny

• tiny house

Rhymes for tiny

• briny
• piney
• shiny
• spiny
• consignee
• sunshiny

Kids Definition

tiny

adjective

ti·​ny ˈtī-nē 

tinier; tiniest

: very small : minute

tininess noun