as in diminutive
something (such as an animal) much smaller than others of its kind one kitten was definitely the runt, weighing only six ounces at birth

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for runt
Noun
  • Meaning: The name Indie can be a diminutive of the names India (country southern Asia) or Indiana (state in midwestern U.S.).
    Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2025
  • Residing on hillside slopes and gently rolling valleys surrounding the stately medieval village of Montalcino, vineyards in the Brunello di Montalcino DOCG are home to a clone of Sangiovese known locally as Brunello, which is a diminutive of the Italian word for brown.
    Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 3 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Later, of course, it was revealed that a quite human dwarf was hidden within the machine, directing the Turk’s gameplay.
    Adam Verner September 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The shrub grows 6 to 15 feet tall; there are dwarf, medium-sized, and tall varieties.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
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.

Cite this Entry

“Runt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/runt. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.

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