little 1 of 3

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as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average the petting zoo has a little horse in addition to all of the goats and sheep

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

little

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adverb

little

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word little distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of little are diminutive, miniature, minute, small, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

When is diminutive a more appropriate choice than little?

Although the words diminutive and little have much in common, diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

In what contexts can miniature take the place of little?

The synonyms miniature and little are sometimes interchangeable, but miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When would minute be a good substitute for little?

The words minute and little can be used in similar contexts, but minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How are the words small and little related?

Both small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

a relatively small backyard

How do tiny and minute relate to one another, in the sense of little?

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 little
Adjective
Without fair elections, an honest media environment and a credible opposition, voters can’t correct their country’s course at the ballot box, providing competitive authoritarian regimes little incentive to do anything but enrich themselves. Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2025 But these little twinges the audience might feel about everyone being mortal only added, if anything, to the evening’s personal potency, and the vitality of a reconvening of the tribe that supported the Wilson sisters from the outset, along with strays picked up during the MTV years. Chris Willman, Variety, 7 Mar. 2025
Adverb
But while adding weight to smaller vehicles can go a long way towards protecting those inside, adding weight to vehicles already on the heavy side does little to better protect occupants, and makes those vehicles significantly more dangerous to others. Tanya Mohn, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 Like last year, the Rays did very little against Priester. Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 22 Feb. 2025
Noun
Choose from nine colors and patterns, such as versatile solid grey to a fun rainbow tie-dye hue that’s great for the littles at home. Brittany Vanderbill, People.com, 30 Dec. 2024 While Eden Rock doesn’t have a dedicated kids' club, the pool and pristine beach are the perfect playground for littles. Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 22 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for little
Recent Examples of Synonyms for little
Adjective
  • He was injured almost immediately in the fall of 2018 and didn’t return until February; by that time Cleveland was already in stage 1 of a painful (but, ultimately, short) rebuild.
    Joe Vardon, The Athletic, 6 Mar. 2025
  • California will experience longer days and shorter nights up until the summer solstice on Friday, June 20, the longest day of the year.
    Hannah Poukish, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Beneath that ice, the light sensors recorded an astronomically small number of photons: an upper range of 0.04 micromoles per square meter per second, a number very close to the theoretical minimum amount of light that photosynthesis can run on.
    Asher Elbein, WIRED, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Despite being a very small heavyweight at 210 pounds, sophomore Daniel Moylan, took third at 285.
    Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Others may include family offices that offer a narrower range of services.
    Francois Botha, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Thirty narrow stairs lead to City Ballet’s bright, top floor rehearsal studio, with double ballet barres lining three walls, a floor-to-ceiling mirror, and an open ceiling with a treacherously low center beam that high jumping dancers have learned to avoid.
    Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The world in brief Expert claims Russia violating rights BANGUI, Central African Republic -- An independent investigator is claiming United Nations peacekeeping forces and Russian mercenaries are carrying out human rights violations in the Central African Republic.
    Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Below are brief descriptions of the wines and tasting notes.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Presented here, through some visual trickery, as a diminutive schlump with a hideous comb-over, Hawke doesn’t exactly disappear into the role, which strikes me as fortuitous and perhaps deliberate.
    Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Named Grace after the late pioneer of software engineering Grace Murray Hopper, the diminutive craft will conduct several hops that reach up to 50 meters (164 feet) in the air before diving into a nearby crater that lives in permanent shadow.
    Jackie Wattles, CNN, 26 Feb. 2025
Adverb
  • And of course, Dyson’s reputation for powerful, reliable vacuums speaks for itself — there’s a reason these things rarely go on sale.
    Juhi Wadia, PCMAG, 5 Mar. 2025
  • There are some good players, but elite performers rarely reach the open market in the prime years of their career.
    Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Moore is quirky and a little bit edgy as the cool one of the group, whose all-black wardrobe could either be a fashion statement… or a sign of clinical depression.
    Katie Rife, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
  • Co-presenting the Animated Feature and Animated Short categories, the unlikely duo navigated their bits and at various moments, sweetly linked arms or hands.
    Elizabeth Leonard, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • My worst days were spent being transported to the courtroom shackled and isolated in a tiny cage, waiting to be summoned into trial.
    James L. Dold, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Acupuncture and the tiny sugar pellets of homeopathy.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 5 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Little.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/little. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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