1
as in little
of a size that is less than average a small cat who never weighed more than five pounds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4

Try This Instead

For
Try This
a small amount
a tiny amount
an insignificant amount
a minimal amount
a trivial amount
a modest amount
a small town
a quaint town
a rural town
a little town
a tiny town
a rustic town
small changes
minor changes
subtle changes
slight changes
incremental changes
trivial changes
small pieces
minuscule pieces
manageable pieces
little pieces
fine pieces

Synonym Chooser

How is the word small distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of small are diminutive, little, miniature, minute, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

a relatively small backyard

In what contexts can diminutive take the place of small?

In some situations, the words diminutive and small are roughly equivalent. However, diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

When can little be used instead of small?

The meanings of little and small largely overlap; however, little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

When could miniature be used to replace small?

The words miniature and small can be used in similar contexts, but miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When is it sensible to use minute instead of small?

The words minute and small are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How are the words tiny and minute related as synonyms of small?

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 small The initial plan of using a hoist to pluck them from the wing proved too dangerous, as the the smallest girl was being buffeted and blown around by the wind created by the helicopter, said Lt. Col. Brendon Holbrook, commander of the 207th Aviation Regiment. CBS News, 26 Mar. 2025 The penumbra also barely grazes South America, producing a small dent in the Sun at sunrise for parts of Suriname, French Guiana and Amada in Brazil. Joe Rao, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2025 Retail trade, which includes small and large clothing stores, lost 6,700 jobs, around 5,500 of which were not in department stores. Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025 Sitting in his idling pickup one afternoon, Sherlock watched as a Canadian Pacific train rumbled by the grain elevator in the small town of Wimbledon. Kirk Siegler, NPR, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for small
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small
Adjective
  • One 2019 study from researchers at Florida Gulf Coast University and West Virginia University found little evidence that CDFI funding significantly boosts small business activity.
    Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • And despite the dynamic, positive feedback of the recovery, there is little evidence of fresh dollar inflows at this point.
    Guy Petcho, National Review, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Alcaraz, who lives his best life at Indian Wells, playing golf on his off days and pummeling his opponent, chalked up the slow start and the loss to having fallen into the trap of thinking too much about his opponent rather than focusing on himself.
    Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Stewart’s on-field production left a lot to be desired last year, but his motor doesn’t have an off switch.
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Aftershocks are typically minor adjustments along the portion of a fault that slipped at the time of the initial earthquake.
    William B. Davis, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The incident, while ultimately only a minor one, did impact the rest of their vacation.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Gangs stop petty thievery in their own neighborhoods.
    Walter E Block, Orange County Register, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Mixed in with small pleasures and petty disputes with her older sister are true feats of survival and bravery.
    Lynette Rice, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The 2024 edition of this diminutive all-arounder—capable of gaming, media playback, and light productivity—sees an improvement in processing power over previous iterations thanks to the A17 Pro chip.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The button bush is not a diminutive plant, reaching up to 12 feet tall by 4 feet wide at maturity.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • That means with the slim majority in the House, two seats could flip the other direction.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Ensure the keep pile isn’t overflowing while your donate pile is slim.
    Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Zero Day held a slight lead with 1.84 billion minutes of viewing to 1.81 billion for Reacher.
    Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Making one bet at a slight little edge is not going to have a huge effect on someone's bracket.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Currently the parochial vicar at St. Lucy Parish in Campbell, Rev. Pedigo formerly served as pastor at St. Julie Billiart and Our Lady of Guadalupe in San Jose.
    Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2025
  • At this point, any family that wants their child to attend a private school is now able to get more than $8,000 per year to pay private or parochial tuition.
    Letters to the Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Small.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on small

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!