as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average
a pygmy elephant
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also pigmy
1
as in dwarf
something (such as an animal) 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2025
And with many fewer moths, the pygmy possum's future is even bleaker.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 12 Jan. 2025
Currently, there are fewer than 3,000 pygmy hippos in the wild, according to San Diego Zoo.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2025
Complicating their life on a pygmy goat sanctuary in Vermont is a crew of old friends who live nearby, several of them in the same house.
—Sam Thielman, New York Times, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Noun
Listen to this article A Ramona Wildlife Center pygmy hippo that was rescued more than two decades ago broke a world record this weekend by becoming the oldest living captive pygmy hippo in recorded history, San Diego Humane Society officials said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2025
And with many fewer moths, the pygmy possum's future is even bleaker.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 12 Jan. 2025
Currently, there are fewer than 3,000 pygmy hippos in the wild, according to San Diego Zoo.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2025
Complicating their life on a pygmy goat sanctuary in Vermont is a crew of old friends who live nearby, several of them in the same house.
—Sam Thielman, New York Times, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pygmy
Adjective
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The diminutive Argentine ghosted between defenders, leapt high behind 6ft 2in center back Rio Ferdinand and met the ball with a perfect header, looping it past goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar into the far corner of the net.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
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There was the diminutive Puck, whose tiny body could hurdle through foes like a bowling ball, and Sasquatch, the scientist Walter Langkowski who transformed into a Hulk-like mythical Great Beast of the North with but a thought.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
10 July 2025
Noun
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Tell me a little bit about the technical side of filming a dwarf and an elf together.—
Devan Coggan,
EW.com,
13 Oct. 2022
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Other new characters include Disa, the first female dwarf ever shown in the Lord of the Rings series.—
Ethan Millman,
Rolling Stone,
22 July 2022
Noun
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When the track was first certified, those numbers only included actual sales, but in the past several years, streaming activity has been added to the RIAA’s methodology.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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Identity Theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security Number (SSN), phone number, and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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While the headline-grabbing CEOs are interesting, hearing the stories of smaller companies is absolutely fascinating.—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
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The local government of the small and far-from-wealthy hometown of Pope Leo XIV has voted to acquire the former Robert Prevost’s childhood home as a future museum.—
Howard Husock,
National Review,
12 July 2025
Noun
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In the campaign video, Lohan playfully shows some of the chaos that comes with parenting—think a mountain of toys, stress of packing, and outfits galore.—
Anna Halkidis,
Parents,
10 July 2025
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This is an interactive robot toy and pet camera on wheels with a 2K HD camera, two-way audio, and a laser toy.—
Simon Hill,
Wired News,
10 July 2025
Noun
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Your images also need protection from insects and rodents.—
Kathy Barnes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 July 2025
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Turkeys foraging in agricultural areas in the fall and spring eat mostly waste grains, wild plants, insects, and young grasses.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Map out revenue producing divisions by their profit and loss numbers, evaluate direct margins for the division, identify the weakest division that perpetually makes little or no direct margin and sacrifice them.—
Shivaram Rajgopal,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
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But most of the middle part is missing, and there’s little to explain how the event unfolded from one stage to the next.—
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi,
Discover Magazine,
5 July 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
Cite this Entry
“Pygmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pygmy. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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