little 1 of 3

adjective

ˈli-tᵊl How to pronounce little (audio)
Definition of littlenext
1
as in short
having relatively little height there was a little hedge separating the two lawns

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in small
lacking importance there were just a few little details left to take care of

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in narrow
not broad or open in views or opinions little-minded people who dislike the fact that human society is always progressing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in brief
not lasting for a considerable time let's take a little pause to relax

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
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

2 of 3

adverb

1
as in slightly
in a very small quantity or degree we had little more than we needed to survive in the wilderness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rarely
not often he's been studying very little for the bar exam

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

little

3 of 3

noun

as in bit
a very small amount there's just a little of the pie left

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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
So, topping off a 3D pink chrome manicure with little Hello Kitty decals is perfectly apt. —Kara Jillian Brown, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026 The little white lie seems wrong, and does not discourage the gentleman from issuing more unwanted invitations. —Judith Martin, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2026
Adverb
In That Time When, Popular Science tells the weirdest, surprising, and little-known stories that shaped science, engineering, and innovation. —Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026 Experts say the building has changed little since it was owned by Pan American Airways in the 1930s. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
All of us — grownups, littles and bigs — send our love and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. —Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 17 Dec. 2025 These bags offer warmth, safety, and peace of mind for parents who want to bring their littles on all of their camping trips. —Joe Jackson, Outside, 18 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for little
Recent Examples of Synonyms for little
  1. short
  2. small
  3. narrow
  4. brief
  5. diminutive
  6. slightly
  7. rarely
  8. bit
Adjective
  • Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi Even if not a huge art buff, take the five minutes to wander to the Contarelli chapel inside this small catholic church which is just a short stroll from the Pantheon.
    — CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
  • That’s why Mack is reluctant to hazard a guess as to how many more wins this could mean this season for the Royals, who are seeking to get back to the postseason after falling short last year in the wake of their 2024 breakthrough.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of short
Adjective
  • The cab’s dark interior seems to lure Rauschenberg in, but perhaps he was also drawn to the small round window, like a porthole, above the seat, which looks out at the distance behind the carriage.
    — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Consider reshuffling your to-do list, because a small shift could save money and protect your energy.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of small
Adjective
  • One stretch of narrow country road leading north out of the town of Clones in the Republic, for example, goes through Northern Ireland for some yards before reverting to the Republic.
    — Colm Tóibín, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
  • That's because the radio waves are emanating over a wider range of directions rather than just in a narrow cone from the poles.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Definition of narrow
Adjective
  • Suggest a timeline that protects quality, confirm roles in writing, and schedule a brief follow-up to keep everyone aligned, whether partnered, solo, or collaborating.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Breaking from a brief decline, jail deaths again rose statewide in 2025.
    — Ryan Oehrli April 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of brief
Adjective
  • The device is powered by a rather diminutive 4,050-mAh silicon-carbon battery that supports 33-W charging.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Each of those films also features a plucky, diminutive hero who succeeds in the face of naysayers—an easy figure for any kid watching to root for.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of diminutive
Adverb
  • The image is tightly cropped, the carriage wheels slightly cut off.
    — Hilton Als, New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Improvements included plenty of new alien ships to battle, as well as an invincibility ability for your ship to make the levels slightly less challenging.
    — Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of slightly
Adverb
  • The women, undefeated in 38 games and rarely challenged, earned their inevitable place at table with a 70-52 victory.
    — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The imaging revealed some thickening in my breast tissue, which can indicate anything from an infection or cyst to (rarely) cancer.
    — Jillian Wager, Glamour, 30 Mar. 2026
Definition of rarely
Noun
  • When the crew retracted the drill to replace its bit, an overpowering jet of oil fountained from the well.
    — Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Young Alfred Tennyson grew up in a similarly provincial bit of England, tucked away in his father’s vicarage on a remote part of the east coast of England in a village of fewer than a hundred souls.
    — Kathryn Hughes, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of bit

Phrases Containing little

Browse Nearby Words

litters
little
little bitty
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Cite this Entry

“Little.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/little. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on little

Nglish: Translation of little for Spanish Speakers

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