little 1 of 3

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as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average the petting zoo has a little horse in addition to all of the goats and sheep

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

little

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adverb

little

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word little distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of little are diminutive, miniature, minute, small, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

When is diminutive a more appropriate choice than little?

Although the words diminutive and little have much in common, diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

In what contexts can miniature take the place of little?

The synonyms miniature and little are sometimes interchangeable, but miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When would minute be a good substitute for little?

The words minute and little can be used in similar contexts, but minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How are the words small and little related?

Both small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

a relatively small backyard

How do tiny and minute relate to one another, in the sense of little?

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 little
Adjective
Iran has helped Russia with military drones throughout the war in Ukraine, but analysts now say there might be very little Moscow can or will to do to reciprocate. Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 23 June 2025 The Soviet Union, in the confusion and wreckage left by the war, was wasting little time installing client regimes in Eastern Europe. Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Adverb
That assumes, broadly speaking, that job market continues to remain robust, but the FOMC gains are little more confidence that inflation is returning to 2%. Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025 This is a critical, dangerous time in the realm of technology, when AI models are grabbing data with consequences little understood much less slowed. Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 11 June 2025
Noun
Tia Mowry, Cairo, And Cree Speaking of egg hunts, Tia Mowry and her littles also had one. Essence, 21 Apr. 2025 There's a world where Bailey becomes a backup wing scorer, who grabs the occasional rebound, and does little else. Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for little
Recent Examples of Synonyms for little
Adjective
  • Yes, Nuno will always be reminded about his short and unsuccessful stint at Tottenham Hotspur.
    Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 21 June 2025
  • Long story short, Shaulis made some unflattering comments about Paucek on social media.
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • The veteran would be a small upgrade in the outfield for the Padres.
    Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 July 2025
  • Those are the numbers for a 2.5-MW commercial-scale version, anyway; thus far, the idea has only been tested at smaller scale.
    Loz Blain June 30, New Atlas, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • In more challenging games, however, the side often flatters to deceive and occasionally slips up, as a narrow 2-1 victory over Boca Juniors and 0-1 loss to Benfica showed.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Nothing dramatizes the human comedy with more precision than the sound of a happily narrow mind retorting to the wider environment.
    Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • In a brief exchange with reporters on Friday, Carney addressed questions about the breakdown in talks.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 29 June 2025
  • For a brief moment, everything seemed to be going according to plan.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • And following a violent barn house showdown in which a diminutive, yet completely feral, octogenarian visibly grows new fangs, such suspicions are confirmed.
    Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 10 June 2025
  • One-quarter of the way through the 21st Century, high-end SUVs are one of the dominant categories in the automotive market — every brand from Acura to Volvo has them, in sizes ranging from diminutive to Brobdingnagian.
    Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 5 June 2025
Adverb
  • After a few years of decreasing infection, the pests rarely trouble citrus trees.
    Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2025
  • Rountree is torque and timing, a sniper who doesn’t throw often but rarely misses.
    Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 21 June 2025
Noun
  • The Bruins did a little bit of business on Sunday, signing forward Marat Khusnutdinov and defenseman Michael Callahan to two- and one-year deals, respectively.
    Stephen Conroy, Hartford Courant, 30 June 2025
  • The beloved mega rest stop has officially opened its doors at its first Virginia location, bringing a little bit of Texas to the Commonwealth.
    Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • Tech has a tiny presence on the Southeast Asia 500, generating just under 3% of the list’s total revenue.
    Lionel Lim, Fortune, 22 June 2025
  • Capture brain signals: The device's tiny electrodes pick up signals from individual neurons in the motor cortex.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Little.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/little. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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