as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average
a pygmy elephant
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also pigmy
1
as in dwarf
a living thing much smaller than others of its kind
hummingbirds may be the pygmies of the avian world, but what they lack in size they make up for in beauty
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in number
a person of no importance or influence
regrettably, most of the candidates for the party's nomination that year were political pygmies
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pygmy
Manuela López Restrepo, NPR, 28 Dec. 2024
The hype around the new pygmy follows a summer full of love for Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo born at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand in July.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
The zoo stated that pygmy hippos don't live in groups.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
Moo Deng’s ascendance turned a spotlight on pygmy hippos in general.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Noun
At least one other baby pygmy hippo made a public appearance to fanfare this year — Toni, in Germany.
—Manuela López Restrepo, NPR, 28 Dec. 2024
The hype around the new pygmy follows a summer full of love for Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo born at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand in July.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
The zoo stated that pygmy hippos don't live in groups.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
Moo Deng’s ascendance turned a spotlight on pygmy hippos in general.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pygmy
Adjective
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Despite their diminutive nature, this research suggests even microquasars snacking on small stars can have an impressive cosmic influence, becoming powerful natural particle accelerators.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
19 Feb. 2025
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Despite its diminutive size, the Timekettle Fluentalk T1 Mini Translator is pretty capable.—
Séamus Bellamy,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Emperor tamarins are dwarf monkeys with whiskers that resemble a white moustache.—
Robert Higgs,
cleveland,
1 Feb. 2023
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The dwarf variety grows to be about 5 to 7 feet, ideal for a small garden or accent in a room with limited space.—
Bryce Jones,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Jan. 2023
Noun
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As did the Biden administration, the White House and ICE are selectively releasing numbers to news media rather than publishing them, declining to provide them to USA TODAY, for instance, while releasing some to Reuters late Friday.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA TODAY,
23 Feb. 2025
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In any case, the ad includes a phone number for the fictional business: 1-732-858-5242.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Places to Eat Bryce Canyon Coffee Co. Both Green and LeFevre suggest starting your day at Bryce Canyon Coffee Co. in Tropic, a small community in the Bryce Valley area.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
2 Mar. 2025
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Bob Dylan did that, and La La Land did that to a much smaller way.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Pour the sauce over and gently toss with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until the shrimp and avocado are thoroughly coated.—
Janelle Davis,
CNN,
7 Feb. 2023
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Brine shrimp are a critical food source for the aquaculture industry.—
Evan Bush,
NBC News,
21 Jan. 2023
Noun
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But some of their most common prey items include minnows, crayfish, insects, and amphibians.—
Derek Horner,
Outdoor Life,
27 Feb. 2025
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Scientists have found that fungi, algae, pollen, lichens, insects, bacteria and viruses are especially good at encouraging water to freeze.—
Carl Zimmer,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The sidewalks have been cleared of snow by little sidewalk snowplows.—
Joseph O’Neill,
The New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2025
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But there is little consensus among locals as to what should be done with the proceeds of the lithium boom.—
John Bartlett,
NPR,
23 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Most of the movie is a vaguely comical swipe at Napoleon in domestic life—an awkward lover, a jealous husband, an inveterate complainer, and in sum an annoying twerp.—
Kyle Smith,
WSJ,
21 Nov. 2023
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Kind of a little twerp, now and again.—
Ashley Fetters Maloy,
Washington Post,
7 Nov. 2022
Articles Related to pygmy
Cite this Entry
“Pygmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pygmy. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
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