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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

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 miniature
Adjective
The 291-foot-long Lego lineup stretched along Deck 6 of the ship’s World Galleria, running from aft to forward and featuring 1,391 miniature vessels constructed by hand. David Nikel, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025 Plastic-neutral retailer Grove Collaborative is debuting the 5% Collection, an assortment of its top cleaning formulas but in miniature form. Mike Snider, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025
Noun
These fans can also order a custom miniature to be sent to their home in a variety of styles. Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 Hero Forge sent two miniatures in two sizes. Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for miniature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
Adjective
  • Known for: Its tiny colorful bags, like Le Bisou, Mini Chiquito, and Bambino.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025
  • In late spring and early summer, tiny pink or purple flowers appear in clusters that may cover the foliage and attract a variety of pollinators.
    Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Hess’s book arrives at a historical moment—post-Dobbs, pro-natalist, techno-dystopian—in which both pregnant bodies and the stuff of reproduction itself have come under an extraordinary degree of scrutiny, judgment, and control.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Fruit fly reproduction Fruit fly reproduction can happen quickly.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Heading into the final rotation, all four teams were separated by under two-tenths of a point, with UCLA holding a minuscule lead over the field.
    Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • All that performance squeezed into a minuscule 9-ounce package is already impressive, and a super affordable sale price of just $13 just sweetens the deal.
    Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Joey Spencer Results, Highlights And Reaction David Bowie’s Double LP The project is being released as a double LP and CD, both of which will come packaged with a replica poster from the original event.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • When Medina instead lifts his right arm, which held the replica gun, officers open fire, striking Medina multiple times.
    Max Levy, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • These ivory pieces, showing signs of intentional modification, may represent the earliest evidence of deliberate ivory processing, possibly crafted by children as imitations of tools.
    Stories by Real-Time news team, with AI summarization, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
  • People can learn what's acceptable and what's not through observation and imitation, and talking about other people's experiences can act as a warning sign for ourselves.
    David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The tiered model approach allows developers to select the appropriate balance between performance and cost, with GPT-4.1 Nano being ideal for tasks like classification or autocompletion, and the standard GPT-4.1 model suited for more complex applications.
    Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • The model aims to help students live and learn together—making everyone feel welcome, and also helping students navigate the conflicts that inevitably arise in a community where people have different world views.
    Emma Green, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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