DIMINUTIVE Synonyms: 179 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'diminutive' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of diminutive are little , miniature , minute , small , and tiny . While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," diminutive implies abnormal smallness. // diminutive bonsai plants

Q: When can 'little' be used instead of 'diminutive'?

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

Q: When would 'miniature' be a good substitute for 'diminutive'?

While in some cases nearly identical to diminutive , miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale. // a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

Q: When might 'minute' be a better fit than 'diminutive'?

In some situations, the words minute and diminutive are roughly equivalent. However, minute implies extreme smallness. // a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

Q: How are the words 'small' and 'little' related as synonyms of 'diminutive'?

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

Q: How do 'tiny' and 'minute' relate to one another, in the sense of 'diminutive'?

Tiny is an informal equivalent to minute . // tiny cracks formed in the painting

diminutive 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of diminutive next

as in small

of a size that is less than average a single diminutive shrub on the edge of the lawn

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

diminutive

2 of 2

noun

də-ˈmi-nyə-tiv

as in dwarf

a living thing much smaller than others of its kind dik-diks, the diminutives of the antelope family

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word diminutive distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of diminutive are little, miniature, minute, small, and tiny. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

When can little be used instead of diminutive?

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

your pathetic little smile

When would miniature be a good substitute for diminutive?

While in some cases nearly identical to diminutive, miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When might minute be a better fit than diminutive?

In some situations, the words minute and diminutive are roughly equivalent. However, minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How are the words small and little related as synonyms of diminutive?

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 diminutive?

Tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

Examples 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 diminutive

Adjective

This one gets off to a so-so start, leading with material about the diminutive height of everyone in his wife Olivia Munn’s family, based on the levels of Asian ancestry per member. —

Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024 The Mac mini is the tiniest Mac ever, making the ultimate diminutive Mac even smaller with a 2-by-5-by-5-inch (HWD) footprint. —

Brian Westover, PCMAG, 1 Nov. 2024

Noun

Dimon is a diminutive for Dmitry. —

Joseph De Avila, WSJ, 11 Mar. 2022 Riv is a favored diminutive for Riviera Country Club, the venerable Pacific Palisades par-71 layout playing host to this week’s PGA Tour event that will include every golfer in the top 25 except Niemann and Cameron Smith, another LIV defector. —

Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2023 See all Example Sentences for diminutive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for diminutive

Adjective

Results were also mixed for a smaller sponsor, medical scrubs maker Figs, which sponsors the U.S. Olympic medical and training staff.

Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 20 Nov. 2024
The movie follows a dancer (Britt Robertson) who gets cut from her company in the big city and returns home to her small town, only to find that her parents’ local performing arts venue is at risk of being closed.

Leigh Nordstrom, WWD, 20 Nov. 2024