as in small
of a size that is less than average
a single diminutive shrub on the edge of the lawn
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dwarf
something (such as an animal) much smaller than others of its kind
dik-diks, the diminutives of the antelope family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 diminutive
Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
The little van packs 'em in better than its diminutive size might suggest, offering seven- and eight-seat layouts.
—New Atlas, 20 Dec. 2025
Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Jan. 2025
Meaning: Miley is often considered a diminutive of the name Miles, but can also refer to singer Miley Cyrus.
—Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for diminutive
Adjective
The first time Furry Friends visited the Santa Clara County jail, in 2023, the group’s vice-president Anne Tiry and two volunteers had Tiry’s golden retriever Hero, along with Hennessey, a diminutive Pomeranian mix, and Bailee, a white Great Dane the size of a small horse.
—Noun
For example, Katie is a diminutive of Katherine and Lisa is a diminutive of Elizabeth.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for diminutive
Adjective
-
The founders argue that automation should be accessible to smaller operators, including neighborhood bars and private event spaces.—
-
There can be 30 minutes of small waves before a sneaker wave strikes.—
Noun
-
La Selva always had caymans, but only the less aggressive and less territorial dwarf and white species.—
-
Recently, the Hubble Space Telescope captured an image of a dwarf galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major.—
Adjective
-
Dick is sympathetic to Leroy’s perspective, noting that being Black in the military means having your personal life scrutinized, which is little comfort for Charlotte.—
-
Sketches such as last night’s Oval Office monologue compact the coal of the administration’s info dumps into little diamonds of comedy, freeing the writers and cast to pursue more escapist fare.—
Noun
-
Never place a wooden or battery-operated toy in the dishwasher.—
-
Flywing avoids positioning the X-Wing Fighter as a casual toy.—
Adjective
-
At the previous World Cup in 2022, hosted by tiny Qatar, all of England’s games were in Doha or just outside that city.—
-
Nanotubes are ultra-small cylindrical structures, so tiny that thousands could fit across the width of a human hair.—
Cite this Entry
“Diminutive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diminutive. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share