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-fry Ridley Scott directs Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura in the first episode of a tale in which two small-fry thieves rob a drug den and become the target of a relentless kingpin. Shauna Lyon, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025 Cassatt achieved hers by changing mediums; by experimenting with colors; and by being perversely drawn to small-fry subject matter, then mining it from all angles. Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 27 June 2024 For small-fry investors and big money managers alike, the psychological toll of falling behind creates pressure, particularly for those sticking with the playbook. Ryan Hogg, Fortune, 10 June 2024 Brad Heppner had the grand idea of bringing investment opportunities enjoyed by Wall Street institutions to small-fry investors. Alexander Gladstone, WSJ, 28 July 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for small-fry
Adjective
  • Crib sheets, which are typically 10 inches deep, may be an exception due to their smaller size.
    Kelly Dawson, Architectural Digest, 14 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
Adjective
  • The researchers say that while the brain activity associated with these movements largely remained the same over time, their location within the brain could shift slightly from day to day — and this is why AI, which can automatically adjust for these minor changes — proved key.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Proper treatment can help the liver heal from minor damage, including fibrosis.
    Sarah Hudgens, Health, 16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Nintendo officially confirmed the Nintendo Switch 2 via a teaser trailer that reveals the hybrid console, a plan for a Nintendo Direct on April 2 to give more details, and very little else.
    Will Greenwald, PCMAG, 19 Mar. 2025
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Small-fry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/small-fry. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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