tiny

adjective

ˈtī-nē How to pronounce tiny (audio)
Definition of tinynext
as in minuscule
very small in size the forest ranger showed us how every square foot of forest is alive with tiny creatures

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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For
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a tiny bit
a teeniest bit
a wee bit
a little bit
tiny room
small room
little room
cozy room
narrow room
a tiny body
a petite body
a skinny body
a small-boned body
a dainty body
a small body
a tiny fraction
a small fraction
an insignificant fraction
a measly fraction
a negligible fraction
a pitiful fraction
tiny holes
pinprick-sized holes
micron-sized holes
bitty holes
small-diameter holes

Synonym Chooser

How is the word tiny distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of tiny are diminutive, little, miniature, minute, and small. While all these words mean "noticeably below average in size," tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

When could diminutive be used to replace tiny?

While in some cases nearly identical to tiny, diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

diminutive bonsai plants

When is little a more appropriate choice than tiny?

The meanings of little and tiny largely overlap; however, little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

your pathetic little smile

When might miniature be a better fit than tiny?

The words miniature and tiny can be used in similar contexts, but miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

When can minute be used instead of tiny?

Although the words minute and tiny have much in common, minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How do small and little relate to one another, in the sense of tiny?

Both small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

a relatively small backyard

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 tiny Endemic species of long, segmented bristle worms and tiny crustaceans graze on bacteria mats and flit among fields of chemosynthetic tube worms, growing thick as grass. —Christian Elliott, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025 The tiny red circle shows the spot in early April where the former crossed below the latter, indicating the extent of trend weakness. —John Navin, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025 Known for: Its tiny colorful bags, like Le Bisou, Mini Chiquito, and Bambino. —Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2025 Since this tiny home lacks a dedicated bedroom, the sofa doubles as a bed. —Adam Williams, New Atlas, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tiny
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tiny
  1. minuscule
  2. miniature
  3. microscopic
  4. small
Adjective
  • Heading into the final rotation, all four teams were separated by under two-tenths of a point, with UCLA holding a minuscule lead over the field.
    — Caroline Price, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
  • All that performance squeezed into a minuscule 9-ounce package is already impressive, and a super affordable sale price of just $13 just sweetens the deal.
    — Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of minuscule
Adjective
  • When filming on a real-size bullet train carriage was not possible for a scene, Shinji used miniature models.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 23 Apr. 2025
  • While there may not have been a special edition popcorn bucket in sight (a miniature stack of books?
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2025
Definition of miniature
Adjective
  • That only works because their bodies are covered in microscopic, water-repellent hairs.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Risks Of Eating Moldy Bread While a little bit of mold might not seem like a big deal, there's a chance that microscopic mold growth can be present throughout the loaf, even if just one piece seems affected.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of microscopic
Adjective
  • In 2022, a consortium of private retirement-plan providers announced a collaboration to boost the portability of small retirement accounts.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Though the alpha-hydroxy acid is an all-star of an active, its rewards aren’t without some small risks—mainly, irritation and sensitivity if used incorrectly.
    — Emily Orofino, Vogue, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of small

Browse Nearby Words

tintypes
tiny
tip
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Cite this Entry

“Tiny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tiny. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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