as in dwarf
something (such as an animal) much smaller than others of its kind
one kitten was definitely the runt, weighing only six ounces at birth
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Recent Examples of runt
That runt is now the starting quarterback of the New England Patriots.
—
Tim Rohan, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
There’s usually a runt in every litter.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 13 Dec. 2025
Schuster-Koloamatangi, who’s a native New Zealander, plays Dek, the franchise’s first Yautja protagonist, and as the runt of his Predator clan, he’s been completely written off by his father.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Seen as the runt of his clan, Dek has something to prove.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
College football’s eternal doormat, the runt of the SEC’s original litter, had earned time in the national spotlight.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
Imagine a second straight year of Bama righting the season by beating Georgia — and then immediately losing to the SEC's longtime runt.
—Jason Kirk, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Pershan observed that this was a runt of the litter.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 June 2025
Tim Rohan, NBC news, 5 Feb. 2026
There’s usually a runt in every litter.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 13 Dec. 2025
Schuster-Koloamatangi, who’s a native New Zealander, plays Dek, the franchise’s first Yautja protagonist, and as the runt of his Predator clan, he’s been completely written off by his father.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Seen as the runt of his clan, Dek has something to prove.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 4 Nov. 2025
College football’s eternal doormat, the runt of the SEC’s original litter, had earned time in the national spotlight.
—Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
Imagine a second straight year of Bama righting the season by beating Georgia — and then immediately losing to the SEC's longtime runt.
—Jason Kirk, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Pershan observed that this was a runt of the litter.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 25 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for runt
Noun
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The Dodgers’ $850-million annual revenue dwarfs competitors like the Diamondbacks at $324 million, exemplifying the financial gulf driving owners’ desire for cost controls.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
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In a new study published on Monday in the Astrophysical Journal, researchers used computers to simulate the two dwarf galaxies’ 100-million-year-long collision.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The more common nickname, El Mencho, is said to be a diminutive of his first name, Nemesio.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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Another gender-neutral name that had a burst of popularity in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Jamie was a go-to for girls or a diminutive of James for boys.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Many joked that the clip explained years of mysterious toy discoveries beneath their own furniture.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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Stay tuned for a fun moment when the zero gravity indicator — a plush toy chosen by the Artemis II crew — floats into view, showing that the astronauts are now in the space environment.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Runt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/runt. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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