as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average
a pygmy elephant
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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
Eric Noll, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2025
Travelers start in Borneo’s rainforests, looking for orangutans, proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants.
—Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Here, guests will find a pizza pod, spa, a family of pygmy goats, and several beehives from which more than 400 pounds of honey are harvested each year.
—Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2025
But in some good news, the Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Kansas welcomed a new male baby pygmy hippo on June 26.
—Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Noun
The star of the show was Mars, a 6-week-old pygmy hippo, one of only 3,000 remaining in the wild.
—Eric Noll, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2025
Travelers start in Borneo’s rainforests, looking for orangutans, proboscis monkeys and pygmy elephants.
—Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Here, guests will find a pizza pod, spa, a family of pygmy goats, and several beehives from which more than 400 pounds of honey are harvested each year.
—Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 10 Aug. 2025
But in some good news, the Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Kansas welcomed a new male baby pygmy hippo on June 26.
—Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pygmy
Adjective
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Unlike prior targets, KY26 was chosen for its comparatively diminutive size.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
18 Sep. 2025
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When the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship comes to the Twin Cities in December, not many will know that more than 50 years ago, a diminutive former Gophers hockey player was a catalyst in the establishment of the tournament that now garners worldwide media attention.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Oxygenic photosynthesis might be just out of reach on a planet closely orbiting an M-dwarf, says Duffy.—
Bruce Dorminey,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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In the winter, the dwarf conifers will be the star of the show.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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At one point, a running number tied to Boys and Girls Clubs of America flashed on the screen, starting at $100,000.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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These medications can lower the number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps fight bacterial infections.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This personal blender can whip up breakfast smoothies, sauces and dips, salsas, omelets, and more thanks to its small but mighty 250-watt power base and stainless steel cross blade.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
16 Sep. 2025
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Among its 14 plant oils are argan kernel and rice bran, which regulate sebum production and loosen dead skin cells, respectively—and, together, leave your pores looking significantly smaller and your skin significantly smoother.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The toy company is partnering with more than a dozen nonprofit research and care partners to donate 10,000 dolls to children across the globe with cancer or autoimmune diseases.—
Anna Halkidis,
Parents,
18 Sep. 2025
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Finally, the dogs were asked to select a pull or fetch toy from among the unlabeled items.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Since this aphid attracts a wide variety of beneficial insects that prey on it and pecan pests, crape myrtles have been planted in pecan orchards with a positive impact on pecan harvests.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
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Highly resistant to rot, insects, and fire, old redwoods provide an extremely durable carbon piggy bank storing up to 1,300 tons per acre.—
John P. O’Brien,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Olympic silver medalist ran textbook races all season with little to no critiques on form and competitive nature.—
Katelyn Hutchison,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Most available positions are informal, poorly compensated and offer little stability or room for career growth.—
Nir Kshetri,
The Conversation,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Taking on classic buddy-comedy attributes, Sam is the together one with a programmatic path toward life as a wealthy but hollow finance twerp, while Ari is the brash, cracked, less-medicated-than-he-should-be bull in a china shop.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
8 Sep. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Pygmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pygmy. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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