as in diminutive
of a size that is less than average
a pygmy elephant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 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
-
Hawkins is the revelation here, a diminutive, hippy-dippy monster.—
Taylor Antrim,
Vogue,
21 July 2025
-
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
-
Tell me a little bit about the technical side of filming a dwarf and an elf together.—
Devan Coggan,
EW.com,
13 Oct. 2022
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Beyond providing an invitation for music-curious Austinites to come explore the clubs, the festival offers a lifeline to musicians and venues during the slow summer season, when small clubs that support emerging artists face some of their greatest challenges.—
Mars Salazar,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
-
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
-
The fire department showed up with two cribs, mattresses, baby clothes, diapers, wipes and toys for all of the twins' siblings — paid for by the Detroit Public Safety Foundation.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
22 July 2025
-
This is often best for items like baby clothing and toys—especially since babies outgrow this stuff at lightning speed, and your parent friends will want to pass this stuff along and get it out of their homes.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
For starters, try planting dill around your brassicas, basil beneath your nightshades, or low-growing Corsican mint or Roman chamomile around any plants that need insect pollination.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 July 2025
-
Pick the right bug spray The Austin American-Statesman tested 16 insect repellants.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Austin American Statesman,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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 3 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share