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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of pygmy
Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The forests and swamps of West Africa – particularly Liberia – are the native stomping ground of pygmy hippos, but there are believed to be only 2,500 remaining in the wild today, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN).
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 6 Nov. 2024
Moo Deng's name, translated to English, means Bouncy Pork—and Edinburgh Zoo followed the trend by naming their pygmy hippo after Scotland's national dish.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
The 4-month-old pygmy hippo slowly meanders up to her fruit baskets.
—Cheyanne M. Daniels, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pygmy 
Noun
The birth of a pygmy hippo baby is a reason to celebrate considering the dwindling population.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The forests and swamps of West Africa – particularly Liberia – are the native stomping ground of pygmy hippos, but there are believed to be only 2,500 remaining in the wild today, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN).
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 6 Nov. 2024
Moo Deng's name, translated to English, means Bouncy Pork—and Edinburgh Zoo followed the trend by naming their pygmy hippo after Scotland's national dish.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024
The 4-month-old pygmy hippo slowly meanders up to her fruit baskets.
—Cheyanne M. Daniels, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pygmy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pygmy
Adjective
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Below it, the diminutive town of La Angostura has an everyman air that belies the wealth of its residents, like an Argentine Jackson Hole.Mark Johanson, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2024
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This was where others posting on the mammal-watching website reported seeing some of the rarest wildlife, including tree-dwelling clouded leopards and diminutive sun bears, the smallest species of bear in the world.Mihir Zaveri, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
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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Science Direct found pre-service teachers were accurate 45.1% of the time while the number for experienced teachers was 37.8%.Jonathan Gillham, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
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That figure also represented the total number of employees that could be hired, without calculating the impact of the number of IRS workers who are expected to retire or leave the department over the next several years.Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Shaikh said the swap is happening in the food hall's incubator section, where small businesses can get a stall and a six month lease to try out new concepts.Jordyn Noennig, Journal Sentinel, 14 Dec. 2024
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Many were small, but if the thunderstorm coincided with Santa Ana winds, the gusts could blow embers into the canyons, spreading the conflagration rapidly.Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
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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They’re drawn to urban environments during cold months for the same reasons as rodents and insects: warmth, food, and shelter.Kody Boye, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024
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The diversity of plants also supports pollinators, like bees, butterflies and other insects as well as urban wildlife.Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Tens of thousands of social media users mocked the death of the health insurance CEO and showed little sympathy after the killing.Holly Yan, CNN, 7 Dec. 2024
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Half the fun of making these little sweets is unwrapping the mini chocolates.Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024
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
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Cite this Entry
“Pygmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pygmy. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
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