as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average
a pygmy elephant
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pygmy
Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2025
Learning more about pygmy hippo behavior and conservation from a zoo team member.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
In 2016, pygmy hippos were deemed an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 11 July 2025
Moo Deng has also boosted awareness of pygmy hippos, an endangered species that are smaller cousins of the hippopotamus and native to West Africa.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Noun
As one of the few dozen pygmy hippos living in such facilities across the country, the pygmy hippo has received specialized attention, officials said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2025
Learning more about pygmy hippo behavior and conservation from a zoo team member.
—Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
In 2016, pygmy hippos were deemed an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 11 July 2025
Moo Deng has also boosted awareness of pygmy hippos, an endangered species that are smaller cousins of the hippopotamus and native to West Africa.
—Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pygmy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pygmy
Adjective
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Hawkins is the revelation here, a diminutive, hippy-dippy monster.—
Taylor Antrim,
Vogue,
21 July 2025
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Over the past century, however, pollution, invasive species and excessive water pumping have destabilized the ecosystem, pushing the diminutive delta smelt toward extinction.—
Moira Donovan,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 July 2025
Noun
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Tell me a little bit about the technical side of filming a dwarf and an elf together.—
Devan Coggan,
EW.com,
13 Oct. 2022
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Other new characters include Disa, the first female dwarf ever shown in the Lord of the Rings series.—
Ethan Millman,
Rolling Stone,
22 July 2022
Noun
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Streets included in the network are focus areas in a citywide effort to curb the number of vehicle crashes with injuries.—
Leo Bertucci,
The Courier-Journal,
29 July 2025
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From the 1980s to the 2010s, a series of mergers and new ventures doubled the number of taxi companies to six: Yellow (merged with Roy’s), Austin (merged with Harlem), American, Texas, Lone Star and Checker.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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The Kitchen by Cooking with Que is open to the public Fridays and Saturdays as a small café. Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
25 July 2025
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Bringing bold wallpaper into a small space can be a fun way to add a bit of a ‘wow’ factor, and that is precisely what Laws did in this 40-square-foot half-bath.—
Lennie Omalza,
The Courier-Journal,
25 July 2025
Noun
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Its garage is stuffed with every toy essential to making the most of Antarctica’s terrain: a submarine, a helideck, Seabobs, and snowmobiles, among others.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
2 Aug. 2025
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Maverick's favorite activities include running with friends, playing with crinkle toys and taking long naps in between helping patients, families and staff.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
2 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Because no specific antiviral medicine is available for chikungunya, prevention—through vaccination, insect repellent, long sleeves, and mosquito control measures—remains the most effective defense, according to the CDC.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Aug. 2025
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These tiny insects lay their eggs in small puddles of standing water indoors and out.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The 2023 impeachment trial of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who was acquitted in a Senate impeachment trial on a range of charges including bribery and abuse of office, appeared to have done little to undermine his standing among voters.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Since all the council members sit on the budget committee that voted and heard budget, little, if anything, in the budget is expected to change.—
Scott Wartman,
The Enquirer,
30 July 2025
Noun
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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
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Kind of a little twerp, now and again.—
Ashley Fetters Maloy,
Washington Post,
7 Nov. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Pygmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pygmy. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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