1
as in elf
an imaginary being usually having a small human form and magical powers
Snow White and the seven dwarfs
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2
as in diminutive
something (such as an animal) much smaller than others of its kind
Shetland ponies are the dwarfs of the horse world
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in nobody
a person of no importance or influence
it would be ridiculous to compare the two sculptors—one's a giant of the art world and the other's a dwarf
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to halt
to hold back the normal growth of
shrubs dwarfed by the lack of water
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dwarfish
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dwarf
Lisa Kewley, The Conversation, 14 May 2026
The dark matter By looking at how the emission lines in the spectrum were broadened by the Doppler effect, Nakajima and his colleagues measured that the gas is swirling around inside the galaxy at roughly 58 kilometers per second, a rather typical value for dwarf galaxies.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 16 May 2026
Consider flowering dogwood, chaste tree, dwarf Italian cypress, or Little Gem magnolia instead.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 May 2026
Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
The protagonist looks at the dwarf maple tree that stands on his desk.
—Charlie Tyson, Harpers Magazine, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dwarf
Noun
Over billions of years, the galaxy probably collided with smaller dwarf galaxies, which brought in fresh gas and stars and helped build up the outer spiral arms.
—Lisa Kewley, The Conversation, 14 May 2026
The dark matter By looking at how the emission lines in the spectrum were broadened by the Doppler effect, Nakajima and his colleagues measured that the gas is swirling around inside the galaxy at roughly 58 kilometers per second, a rather typical value for dwarf galaxies.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
Verb
Ossoff’s wallet dwarfs those of his GOP competition, as Collins, Carter, and Dooley combined don’t even have half of their Democrat opponent’s cash on hand.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 16 May 2026
Consider flowering dogwood, chaste tree, dwarf Italian cypress, or Little Gem magnolia instead.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 May 2026
Adjective
The bond between the dwarf calf and the aging horse blossomed over the following months.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
The protagonist looks at the dwarf maple tree that stands on his desk.
—Charlie Tyson, Harpers Magazine, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dwarf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dwarf
Noun
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There’s also caviar and cookies and Christmas trees and Housewives and Bravolebrities, all surrounded by twink elves in Christmas G-strings.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
4 May 2026
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The company behind that trio of elves, some of the most iconic mascots in pop culture, is the same corporation that put breakfast on the table in the first place.—
Heather Bushman,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The more common nickname, El Mencho, is said to be a diminutive of his first name, Nemesio.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Another gender-neutral name that had a burst of popularity in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Jamie was a go-to for girls or a diminutive of James for boys.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Unlike some of his more strapping forebears (think Liam Neeson, Kevin Costner, or Aaron Eckhart), Odenkirk specializes in nobodies and normals: people one would not expect to be killing machines.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
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After all, why listen to a podcast with two nobodies co-hosting when a listener can get an hour from a familiar celebrity.—
Frank Racioppi,
Forbes.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And Miller has been struggling with a black issues this year, halting his development.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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In April, Warren petitioned for Education to stop its transfer of federal student aid services to Treasury, hoping to halt the dismantling of the agency.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
Noun
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Everything feels more whimsical, more fairy-like, more nymph-coded, as if fashion itself is trying to mirror the romance of the natural world.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
Faie, the Chatty Puzzle-Solving Sidekick You are accompanied by Faie, the floating fairy sidekick, at all times.—
Gabriel Zamora,
PC Magazine,
18 May 2026
Noun
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In addition to the limited release, this toy is priced at a suitably massive 99,000 yen (or around $623 at the current exchange rate).—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
-
This iconic dog toy is a fan-favorite.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
25 May 2026
Noun
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Consider a dashboard that shows applications, including keys and libraries; network traffic protocols and ciphers; hardware, such as HSMs and TPMs; and third-party dependencies, including cryptographic or software bills of materials.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
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As zonky cross-generational ciphers go, the group’s debut, Strictly 4 the Scythe, is no Hypnotize Camp Posse, the amalgam of Three 6 Mafia and a grip of artists signed to their Hypnotize Minds label in the early 2000s.—
Dylan Green,
Pitchfork,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kyle Schwarber stands as a stunning exception to the San Diego ballpark’s home-run suppressing history.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 May 2026
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Like seawater, ice exerts pressure on the Earth’s crust, suppressing volcanic activity.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dwarf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dwarf. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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