miniature 1 of 2

Definition of miniaturenext

miniature

2 of 2

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
In perhaps the least movie-accurate modification, Crostplay2 added a miniature 2,000-volt taser module controlled through a relay. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 22 May 2026 The grave of each veteran in the park will also be decorated with a white cross and a miniature flag starting on Saturday. Heather McRea, Oc Register, 20 May 2026
Noun
While miniature, this space capsule is no toy. Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 11 May 2026 Next up, a build plate of an entire droid army of miniatures. Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for miniature
Recent Examples of Synonyms for miniature
Adjective
  • Keep scrolling for tiny travel essentials that'll fit right in your personal item.
    Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2026
  • These migratory aerial acrobats need a lot of energy to beat their tiny wings so fast.
    Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Shenzhou 21 is also carrying six types of experimental samples and four black mice for experiments related to reproduction in low Earth orbit.
    Andrew Jones, Space.com, 24 May 2026
  • Scientists also warned that artificial light is dramatically affecting biodiversity, especially among nocturnal species that rely on darkness for feeding, migration and reproduction.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Adjective
  • This light has a very specific wavelength, or color, but the JWST observations showed a minuscule shift in this color from one end of the maelstrom to the other because of the hydrogen’s motion.
    Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 27 May 2026
  • The horror pic has been in theaters for less than two weeks and has already earned north of $68 million in North America alone against a minuscule budget of $750,000.
    Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2026
Noun
  • In Nigerian churches, fans hoisted aloft replica trophies at thanksgiving prayer services.
    Lauren Frayer, NPR, 29 May 2026
  • Officers detained many of the people in the fight after chasing them down and later found the replica Glock gun, police said.
    Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
Adjective
  • Protein provides the essential amino acids needed to repair microscopic tears caused by exercise and build new muscle tissue.
    Shimite Obialo, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
  • Interstellar space contains a sparse smattering of hydrogen atoms and microscopic grains of cosmic dust.
    Kai James, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Noun
  • Before Helios, the team built IKARUS, an earlier platform that served as a testbed for teleoperation, imitation learning, and dual-arm manipulation.
    Omar Kardoudi May 29, New Atlas, 29 May 2026
  • Its core capability is a whole-body imitation learning system that enables it to learn tasks by observing human demonstrations and executing them independently with high precision.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026
Noun
  • Managers will typically be responsible for implementing quantum-AI resilient system architectures, ensuring continuous validation and model monitoring, and establishing responsible, zero-trust security practices.
    Ingrid Vasiliu Feltes, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
  • Amid the current cord-cutting era and shift in the future of media, these creatives share why working outside the traditional television model is right for each of them.
    Randee Dawn, Variety, 26 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Miniature.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/miniature. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

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