Another word meaning small

How is the word small distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of small are diminutive, little, miniature, minute, and tiny. While all these words mean «noticeably below average in size,» small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

a relatively small backyard

In what contexts can diminutive take the place of small?

In some situations, the words diminutive and small are roughly equivalent. However, diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

When can little be used instead of small?

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

your pathetic little smile

When could miniature be used to replace small?

The words miniature and small 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 is it sensible to use minute instead of small?

The words minute and small are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, minute implies extreme smallness.

a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

How are the words tiny and minute related as synonyms of small?

Tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

tiny cracks formed in the painting

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

  1. smalladjective

    In a small fashion.

    Synonyms:
    tiny, microscopic, minuscule, little, minute

    Antonyms:
    capital, old, grown-up, large, adult, big, generous

  2. smalladjective

    Young, as a child.

    Remember when the children were small?

    Synonyms:
    young, wee, little

    Antonyms:
    grown-up, big, capital, large, generous, old, adult

  3. smalladjective

    Antonyms:
    adult, big, capital, grown-up, generous, large, old

  4. smalladjective

    Synonyms:
    lowercase, minuscule

    Antonyms:
    big, uppercase, capital, majuscule

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

  1. small

    Fine (Latin finis, end) denotes that which has been brought to a full end, finished. From this root-sense many derived meanings branch out, causing words quite remote from each other to be alike synonyms of fine. That which is truly finished, brought to an ideal end, is excellent of its kind, and beautiful, if a thing that admits of beauty; as, a fine house, fine trees, a fine woman, a fine morning; if a thing that admits of the removal of impurities, it is not finished till these are removed, and hence fine signifies clarified, clear, pure, refined; as, fine gold. That which is finished is apt to be polished, smooth to the touch, minutely exact in outline; hence fine comes to be a synonym for all words like dainty, delicate, exquisite; as, fine manners, a fine touch, fine perceptions. As that which is delicate is apt to be small, by an easy extension of meaning fine becomes a synonym for slender, slight, minute, comminuted; as, a fine thread, fine sand; or for filmy, tenuous, thin; as, a fine lace, fine wire; and as a thin edge is keen, sharp, fine becomes also a synonym for these words; as, a fine point, a fine edge. Compare BEAUTIFUL; MINUTE.

    Synonyms:
    beautiful, clarified, clear, comminuted, dainty, delicate, elegant, excellent, exquisite, fine, gauzy, handsome, keen, minute, nice, polished, pure, refined, sensitive, sharp, slender, slight, smooth, splendid, subtile, subtle, tenuous, thin

    Antonyms:
    big, blunt, clumsy, coarse, great, heavy, huge, immense, large, rude, stout, thick

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

  1. small

    Synonyms:
    little, diminutive, slight, minute, feeble, trivial, insignificant, paltry, narrow, mean, weak, slender, fine, inferior

    Antonyms:
    great, large, big, considerable, bulky, extensive, ample, spacious, stout, strong, important, broad, liberal

Princeton’s WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

  1. smallnoun

    the slender part of the back

    Antonyms:
    rangy, gargantuan, larger, immoderate, gigantic, monstrous, man-sized, giant, overlarge, enormous, bouffant, large, double, sizable, plumping, galactic, too large, super, epic, macro, colossal, massive, elephantine, monumental, jumbo, uppercase, volumed, vast, coarse, loud, old, extensive, large-mouthed, blown-up, tremendous, king-size, bulky, mountainous, sizeable, huge, puffy, cosmic, unlimited, queen-size, hulking, increased, titanic, outsize, oversized, prodigious, heroic, monolithic, bear-sized, humongous, thumping, superior, voluminous, larger-than-life, queen-sized, macroscopical, spacious, wide, limitless, enlarged, harsh, Brobdingnagian, whacking, astronomical, bigger, life-sized, wide-ranging, life-size, whopping, capacious, extended, medium-large, largish, deep, large-scale, outsized, macroscopic, ample, banging, big, much(a), grand, full-size, stupendous, hulky, broad, king-sized, biggish, walloping, mammoth, great, immense, oversize, lifesize, astronomic

  2. smalladjective

    a garment size for a small person

    Antonyms:
    medium-large, large-mouthed, immoderate, prodigious, coarse, monstrous, enlarged, sizeable, rangy, life-size, large-scale, galactic, deep, queen-sized, increased, oversize, volumed, giant, big, cosmic, broad, extended, biggish, macroscopical, larger, jumbo, sizable, titanic, unlimited, overlarge, extensive, ample, grand, super, much(a), gigantic, life-sized, enormous, tremendous, immense, capacious, gargantuan, thumping, too large, whacking, double, voluminous, mountainous, queen-size, mammoth, astronomical, banging, large, old, whopping, superior, puffy, wide, blown-up, outsize, hulky, king-sized, man-sized, macroscopic, bear-sized, elephantine, astronomic, lifesize, great, full-size, macro, vast, bouffant, king-size, massive, limitless, stupendous, bulky, hulking, plumping, humongous, loud, spacious, epic, largish, wide-ranging, monolithic, monumental, colossal, bigger, larger-than-life, huge, uppercase, Brobdingnagian, oversized, harsh, heroic, walloping, outsized

  3. small, littleadjective

    limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

    «a little dining room»; «a little house»; «a small car»; «a little (or small) group»

    Synonyms:
    short, piddling, trivial, niggling, picayune, diminished, footling, lilliputian, humble, lowly, modest, slight, petty, minuscule, minor, pocket-sized, little(a), belittled, pocket-size, small(a), fiddling, little, small-scale, piffling, low

    Antonyms:
    queen-size, monolithic, uppercase, spacious, prodigious, large, banging, large-scale, mountainous, whacking, limitless, plumping, life-size, elephantine, superior, epic, deep, titanic, oversize, lifesize, hulking, rangy, macroscopical, hulky, sizable, Brobdingnagian, biggish, humongous, extended, full-size, immoderate, larger, bulky, capacious, immense, voluminous, tremendous, volumed, broad, grand, vast, man-sized, largish, great, double, massive, ample, old, loud, astronomical, wide-ranging, coarse, much(a), super, macroscopic, jumbo, whopping, gigantic, large-mouthed, king-size, bouffant, bigger, unlimited, monstrous, extensive, walloping, big, outsized, harsh, enormous, huge, gargantuan, heroic, medium-large, bear-sized, increased, monumental, enlarged, overlarge, cosmic, puffy, blown-up, king-sized, mammoth, colossal, larger-than-life, sizeable, outsize, giant, astronomic, stupendous, galactic, macro, wide, life-sized, too large, queen-sized, oversized, thumping

  4. minor, modest, small, small-scale, pocket-size, pocket-sizedadjective

    limited in size or scope

    «a small business»; «a newspaper with a modest circulation»; «small-scale plans»; «a pocket-size country»

    Synonyms:
    pocketable, underage, diminished, mild, minor(ip), nonaged, humble, lowly, meek, modest, minuscule, minor, pocket-sized, belittled, venial, pocket-size, small(a), little, small-scale, low

    Antonyms:
    coarse, outsize, biggish, sizable, outsized, large-scale, galactic, great, massive, superior, rangy, ample, larger, vast, medium-large, sizeable, astronomic, capacious, extensive, full-size, oversized, plumping, unlimited, big, lifesize, mountainous, limitless, immense, prodigious, grand, hulking, humongous, too large, huge, tremendous, bouffant, macro, broad, banging, immoderate, oversize, man-sized, much(a), wide-ranging, queen-size, gargantuan, blown-up, largish, spacious, colossal, double, voluminous, gigantic, life-sized, deep, thumping, whacking, enlarged, large-mouthed, large, volumed, king-sized, cosmic, uppercase, heroic, monumental, life-size, giant, bulky, king-size, stupendous, jumbo, larger-than-life, wide, whopping, bigger, enormous, extended, Brobdingnagian, harsh, old, increased, epic, queen-sized, astronomical, puffy, monolithic, titanic, monstrous, hulky, walloping, macroscopical, elephantine, bear-sized, loud, super, mammoth, overlarge, macroscopic

  5. little, smalladjective

    (of children and animals) young, immature

    «what a big little boy you are»; «small children»

    Synonyms:
    piddling, small-scale, trivial, picayune, diminished, lowly, footling, minor, humble, lilliputian, slight, minuscule, fiddling, petty, short, pocket-sized, little(a), belittled, low, pocket-size, small(a), little, modest, piffling, niggling

    Antonyms:
    astronomical, lifesize, monstrous, colossal, ample, life-sized, puffy, jumbo, harsh, enlarged, titanic, plumping, galactic, massive, gargantuan, bulky, prodigious, much(a), extended, hulking, big, macroscopical, large-scale, wide-ranging, spacious, enormous, mountainous, mammoth, double, huge, bouffant, monumental, biggish, thumping, giant, medium-large, unlimited, old, king-size, elephantine, volumed, coarse, full-size, rangy, hulky, larger, whopping, monolithic, man-sized, immoderate, bear-sized, wide, increased, loud, bigger, walloping, large-mouthed, cosmic, macroscopic, larger-than-life, astronomic, heroic, sizable, voluminous, epic, extensive, blown-up, Brobdingnagian, uppercase, super, oversize, whacking, broad, queen-size, tremendous, sizeable, great, banging, humongous, limitless, deep, oversized, overlarge, life-size, superior, queen-sized, large, capacious, outsized, outsize, stupendous, king-sized, macro, largish, vast, immense, gigantic, grand, too large

  6. small(a)adjective

    slight or limited; especially in degree or intensity or scope

    «a series of death struggles with small time in between»

    Antonyms:
    puffy, spacious, titanic, plumping, humongous, astronomic, limitless, monumental, immoderate, stupendous, queen-size, Brobdingnagian, large-mouthed, rangy, walloping, jumbo, oversize, bouffant, heroic, enormous, vast, great, colossal, king-size, extensive, huge, deep, macroscopic, monstrous, much(a), coarse, bigger, hulky, wide-ranging, cosmic, queen-sized, gigantic, big, large-scale, enlarged, largish, giant, gargantuan, monolithic, increased, super, sizeable, outsize, thumping, macro, too large, galactic, wide, life-size, massive, voluminous, larger, whacking, macroscopical, blown-up, old, harsh, bear-sized, large, extended, overlarge, outsized, superior, lifesize, loud, immense, mountainous, whopping, banging, hulking, elephantine, ample, larger-than-life, bulky, unlimited, man-sized, epic, capacious, oversized, grand, full-size, uppercase, biggish, prodigious, sizable, king-sized, life-sized, mammoth, volumed, broad, astronomical, medium-large, double, tremendous

  7. humble, low, lowly, modest, smalladjective

    low or inferior in station or quality

    «a humble cottage»; «a lowly parish priest»; «a modest man of the people»; «small beginnings»

    Synonyms:
    down(p), dispirited, minor, downcast, subaltern, scummy, base, baseborn, low-down, modest, petty(a), scurvy, pocket-sized, lower-ranking, secondary, humbled, gloomy, miserable, lowly, low, broken, small(a), down in the mouth, blue, humble, downhearted, grim, meek, low-toned, low-pitched, little, menial, pocket-size, small-scale, depleted, crushed, mild, junior-grade, diminished, abject, depressed, minuscule, low-spirited, belittled, humiliated

    Antonyms:
    plumping, macroscopical, colossal, large, mountainous, deep, enlarged, whacking, sizeable, voluminous, wide-ranging, unlimited, extended, humongous, king-sized, hulking, heroic, outsize, epic, astronomic, large-mouthed, sizable, whopping, galactic, outsized, giant, hulky, oversized, coarse, queen-size, life-size, double, Brobdingnagian, king-size, larger-than-life, largish, thumping, bigger, massive, immoderate, banging, overlarge, oversize, rangy, wide, tremendous, life-sized, monolithic, lifesize, grand, bear-sized, medium-large, walloping, blown-up, titanic, cosmic, much(a), capacious, great, super, gigantic, macro, volumed, large-scale, bouffant, ample, superior, huge, bulky, immense, larger, astronomical, old, monumental, harsh, too large, spacious, stupendous, limitless, enormous, biggish, queen-sized, full-size, big, gargantuan, elephantine, uppercase, monstrous, man-sized, extensive, jumbo, vast, increased, loud, prodigious, puffy, broad, macroscopic, mammoth

  8. little, minuscule, smalladjective

    lowercase

    «little a»; «small a»; «e.e.cummings’s poetry is written all in minuscule letters»

    Synonyms:
    piddling, small-scale, minuscular, picayune, trivial, lowly, footling, minor, humble, lilliputian, slight, minuscule, fiddling, diminished, petty, short, pocket-sized, little(a), belittled, low, pocket-size, small(a), little, modest, piffling, niggling, miniscule

    Antonyms:
    enlarged, queen-sized, cosmic, outsized, lifesize, sizable, heroic, elephantine, broad, tremendous, huge, hulking, queen-size, wide, banging, giant, bear-sized, volumed, life-sized, super, king-size, wide-ranging, hulky, great, biggish, unlimited, whacking, mountainous, coarse, oversize, titanic, macroscopical, plumping, stupendous, astronomic, whopping, thumping, increased, double, epic, immoderate, jumbo, massive, deep, spacious, macroscopic, king-sized, colossal, capacious, superior, blown-up, large-scale, sizeable, extensive, macro, larger-than-life, vast, enormous, bigger, uppercase, overlarge, much(a), galactic, Brobdingnagian, old, monolithic, man-sized, medium-large, too large, outsize, monumental, large, loud, limitless, walloping, bouffant, prodigious, humongous, ample, full-size, harsh, voluminous, gargantuan, largish, mammoth, astronomical, large-mouthed, oversized, monstrous, immense, puffy, gigantic, grand, extended, life-size, big, bulky, rangy, larger

  9. little, smalladjective

    (of a voice) faint

    «a little voice»; «a still small voice»

    Synonyms:
    piddling, small-scale, trivial, picayune, diminished, lowly, footling, minor, humble, lilliputian, slight, minuscule, fiddling, petty, short, pocket-sized, little(a), belittled, low, pocket-size, small(a), little, modest, piffling, niggling

    Antonyms:
    life-sized, large-scale, jumbo, colossal, increased, titanic, limitless, whopping, massive, ample, broad, larger, medium-large, galactic, plumping, life-size, bigger, overlarge, tremendous, huge, man-sized, banging, wide, immense, super, Brobdingnagian, king-sized, too large, sizeable, gigantic, voluminous, macro, bulky, bouffant, big, vast, superior, great, king-size, heroic, oversized, elephantine, oversize, epic, spacious, monstrous, enlarged, rangy, unlimited, capacious, mammoth, humongous, sizable, harsh, lifesize, puffy, large-mouthed, coarse, monumental, full-size, walloping, loud, astronomic, wide-ranging, cosmic, blown-up, bear-sized, outsized, deep, much(a), enormous, thumping, giant, large, hulking, biggish, largish, astronomical, macroscopical, monolithic, double, stupendous, extended, outsize, prodigious, whacking, larger-than-life, volumed, grand, gargantuan, mountainous, extensive, uppercase, queen-size, immoderate, macroscopic, queen-sized, old, hulky

  10. smalladjective

    have fine or very small constituent particles

    «a small misty rain»

    Synonyms:
    small(a), low, belittled, humble, minuscule, lowly, modest, diminished, minor, little, small-scale, pocket-size, pocket-sized

    Antonyms:
    massive, big, capacious, monstrous, deep, larger, oversize, sizable, life-size, immense, large-mouthed, puffy, king-sized, sizeable, large, monumental, full-size, man-sized, superior, bulky, outsized, mammoth, lifesize, immoderate, queen-size, gargantuan, voluminous, increased, tremendous, monolithic, wide-ranging, enlarged, harsh, life-sized, colossal, volumed, extended, heroic, spacious, plumping, uppercase, largish, ample, queen-sized, banging, huge, hulking, medium-large, giant, old, coarse, large-scale, bouffant, double, gigantic, hulky, titanic, outsize, cosmic, overlarge, epic, grand, humongous, king-size, bear-sized, astronomic, wide, whacking, macroscopic, much(a), Brobdingnagian, blown-up, walloping, thumping, loud, unlimited, larger-than-life, macro, bigger, jumbo, galactic, oversized, broad, whopping, elephantine, super, too large, astronomical, mountainous, vast, extensive, limitless, stupendous, biggish, great, enormous, prodigious, macroscopical, rangy

  11. modest, smalladjective

    not large but sufficient in size or amount

    «a modest salary»; «modest inflation»; «helped in my own small way»

    Synonyms:
    little, low, belittled, mild, meek, lowly, minuscule, modest, diminished, small(a), minor, humble, small-scale, pocket-size, pocket-sized

    Antonyms:
    humongous, voluminous, huge, astronomical, largish, big, immoderate, full-size, titanic, oversized, massive, bouffant, plumping, overlarge, bear-sized, hulking, biggish, harsh, monstrous, rangy, thumping, jumbo, bigger, walloping, spacious, double, large-mouthed, large, elephantine, ample, colossal, galactic, capacious, Brobdingnagian, wide-ranging, epic, medium-large, extended, queen-size, macroscopic, astronomic, wide, life-size, prodigious, life-sized, king-sized, heroic, cosmic, outsized, puffy, oversize, superior, large-scale, hulky, loud, vast, uppercase, giant, whacking, super, deep, monumental, larger, mammoth, broad, monolithic, macroscopical, grand, unlimited, king-size, mountainous, extensive, man-sized, macro, sizeable, larger-than-life, blown-up, enlarged, much(a), bulky, increased, volumed, outsize, tremendous, banging, old, coarse, lifesize, enormous, whopping, gigantic, gargantuan, limitless, immense, too large, great, queen-sized, sizable, stupendous

  12. belittled, diminished, smalladverb

    made to seem smaller or less (especially in worth)

    «her comments made me feel small»

    Synonyms:
    diminished, wasted, atrophied, lowly, humble, lessened, modest, small(a), minuscule, minor, pocket-sized, belittled, weakened, pocket-size, vitiated, little, small-scale, low

    Antonyms:
    macroscopic, rangy, large-scale, mountainous, voluminous, blown-up, extended, loud, enlarged, whacking, extensive, broad, largish, cosmic, walloping, bear-sized, wide-ranging, astronomical, queen-size, vast, deep, oversized, humongous, increased, giant, king-sized, stupendous, huge, large, full-size, jumbo, old, hulking, hulky, too large, galactic, massive, banging, lifesize, biggish, bigger, spacious, medium-large, big, monumental, macro, plumping, enormous, colossal, much(a), gargantuan, outsize, limitless, outsized, king-size, overlarge, uppercase, man-sized, mammoth, large-mouthed, puffy, thumping, heroic, great, macroscopical, ample, gigantic, capacious, immoderate, wide, harsh, epic, life-sized, sizeable, tremendous, unlimited, bulky, titanic, life-size, larger-than-life, immense, elephantine, sizable, superior, larger, queen-sized, monstrous, Brobdingnagian, double, coarse, grand, monolithic, prodigious, super, oversize, bouffant, astronomic, whopping, volumed

  13. smalladverb

    on a small scale

    «think small»

    Antonyms:
    sizeable, mammoth, colossal, vast, bulky, wide-ranging, queen-sized, ample, puffy, giant, voluminous, queen-size, volumed, capacious, enormous, large, humongous, oversize, large-scale, lifesize, enlarged, increased, loud, larger, sizable, macroscopic, macro, jumbo, double, hulky, stupendous, astronomic, great, hulking, large-mouthed, astronomical, coarse, massive, medium-large, outsized, overlarge, oversized, grand, galactic, banging, gigantic, cosmic, king-size, superior, heroic, uppercase, immense, bigger, extended, monumental, whopping, elephantine, epic, limitless, titanic, super, biggish, gargantuan, tremendous, too large, outsize, largish, unlimited, life-sized, monstrous, much(a), walloping, king-sized, prodigious, life-size, thumping, whacking, bouffant, rangy, big, immoderate, huge, macroscopical, bear-sized, blown-up, broad, deep, Brobdingnagian, spacious, extensive, man-sized, old, wide, mountainous, harsh, plumping, full-size, larger-than-life, monolithic

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

  1. pocket size

    Submitted by anonymous on July 5, 2020  

  2. bite-sized

    easily done, understood, or managed

    the teacher presented the new information in bite-sized chunks.

  3. coffinlike

    small is a great word for coffinlike because a coffin is small

    the house was coffinlike.

  4. little

    small in size, amount, or degree (often used to convey an appealing diminutiveness or express an affectionate or condescending attitude).

    the plants will grow into little bushes.

    Submitted by JP03 on September 1, 2015  

  5. pépite

    Submitted by anonymous on April 2, 2020  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

  1. smalladjective

    Synonyms:
    little, diminutive, tiny, puny, dwarf, minikin, dwarfish, stunted, liliputian, pygmean, pygmy, miniature, not great, not large

  2. smalladjective

    Synonyms:
    minute, microscopic, molecular, atomic, corpuscular

  3. smalladjective

    Synonyms:
    petty, trifling, trivial, inconsiderable, insignificant, unimportant

  4. smalladjective

    Synonyms:
    slender, scanty, paltry, moderate

  5. smalladjective

    Synonyms:
    feeble, weak, faint, slight

  6. smalladjective

    Synonyms:
    mean, sordid, selfish, illiberal, ungenerous, mercenary, narrow, narrow-minded

  7. smalladjective

    Synonyms:
    shallow, unintelligent, unintellectual, ungifted, sappy, stolid, dull, feeble-minded

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

  1. smalladjective

    Synonyms:
    little, minute, diminutive, petty, slight, inconsiderable, puny, tiny, weazened, undeveloped, dwarfish, runty, wee, stunted, inappreciable, undersized, atrophied, miniature, trivial, insignificant, trifling, frivolous, mean, narrow-minded, illiberal, sordid, ungenerous, contracted, short, limited, piping, feeble, weak, microscopic, infinitesimal, molecular, corpuscular, atomic, fine, homeopathic

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

  1. List of paraphrases for «small»:

    little, small-, small-scale, tiny, minor, low, smaller, klein, slight, modest, malé, siu, small-sized, light, petit, young, kid, petite, petites, iittle, piccolo, petty, limited, weak, petits, reduced, kleine, harness, pup, restricted, mala, few, boy, hsiao, minimal, short, mic, narrow, xiao, junior, wee, mini, mild, kiddo, smallholder, baby

Suggested Resources

  1. small

    Song lyrics by small — Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by small on the Lyrics.com website.

How to pronounce small?

How to say small in sign language?

How to use small in a sentence?

  1. Chris Brightman:

    It’s very early days in applying that technology to create alternative strategies. It is growing fast but it’s growing fast from a very small base, once you move away from a long-only, unlevered portfolio to using derivatives and leverage in a strategy, you are absolutely introducing additional risks that need to be managed.

  2. Some Russians:

    If you think about Moscow, a city of almost 20 million people – how many people went out to protest? It’s a very small number.

  3. Ron Miller:

    For investors, there are few challenges other than to remember the importance of diversification. Investors should only place a small percentage of their overall wealth in these high risk, high return opportunities, second, within this sector they should diversify among as many different companies as possible.

  4. Goa Kerle:

    Any calling to better the world no matter how small is the highest.

  5. Mayim Bialik:

    I know that there are people who do not have resources or care, it’s something I’ve been following since the beginning of COVID. I was thinking about all the people with young children, especially single parents, because of this level of exhaustion I cannot imagine needing to care for small children right now. I know that so many people in this world are in that situation, and it’s just really devastating to me.


Translations for small

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • صغيرArabic
  • kiçikAzerbaijani
  • бәләкәйBashkir
  • малы́, мале́нькі, малады́Belarusian
  • ма́лъкBulgarian
  • ছোটBengali
  • petitCatalan, Valencian
  • жима, кегийChechen
  • malý, mladýCzech
  • малъOld Church Slavonic, Church Slavonic, Old Bulgarian
  • пӗчӗкChuvash
  • ifanc, bach, bychan, ieuanc, mânWelsh
  • liden, lilleDanish
  • gering, klein, jungGerman
  • sueEwe
  • μικρός, νέοςGreek
  • juna, malgrandaEsperanto
  • pequeño, joven, chico, minúsculas, pequeñaSpanish
  • väikeEstonian
  • که, کوچک, جوان, خرد, برناPersian
  • nuori, pieniFinnish
  • lítilFaroese
  • petit, jeune, minusculeFrench
  • lyts, jongWestern Frisian
  • beagIrish
  • beagScottish Gaelic
  • pequenoGalician
  • begManx
  • קטנה, קטנים, קטנות, קטןHebrew
  • छोटाHindi
  • kicsi, kisHungarian
  • պստիկ, պուճուր, փոքրիկ, փոքր, փոքրատառ, մանրArmenian
  • kecilIndonesian
  • ńta, ọbeleIgbo
  • mikraIdo
  • lítill, smárIcelandic
  • giovane, piccoloItalian
  • קָטָןHebrew
  • 小さい, 若いJapanese
  • მცირე, პატარაGeorgian
  • кішкене, кішіKazakh
  • តូចKhmer
  • 작은Korean
  • بچووکKurdish
  • кичине, кичинекейKyrgyz
  • paulus, iuvenis, parvusLatin
  • ນ້ອຽLao
  • mažasLithuanian
  • mazsLatvian
  • мал, мали, малаMacedonian
  • жижигMongolian
  • छोटा, लहानMarathi
  • kecilMalay
  • żgħira, żgħir, żgħarMaltese
  • နုပ်, သေးBurmese
  • klein, nietig, minuscuul, jongDutch
  • liten, ungNorwegian
  • petit, pichon, pichòtOccitan
  • ਛੋੱਟਾPanjabi, Punjabi
  • mały, młodyPolish
  • وړوکی, کوچنیPashto, Pushto
  • pequeno, minúsculo, jovemPortuguese
  • pitschen, giuvenRomansh
  • mici, mic, tânărRomanian
  • мале́нький, молодо́й, ма́лый, ма́ленький, маленькийRussian
  • अल्पSanskrit
  • ма̑л, mȃlSerbo-Croatian
  • කුඩාSinhala, Sinhalese
  • malýSlovak
  • majhenSlovene
  • i vogëlAlbanian
  • ung, liten, småSwedish
  • mdogoSwahili
  • சிறிய, இளைய, சிறிய்Tamil
  • చిన్నTelugu
  • хурдTajik
  • เล็กThai
  • kiçiTurkmen
  • maliitTagalog
  • küçükTurkish
  • бәләкәй, кече, кечекTatar
  • молоди́й, мали́й, мале́нькийUkrainian
  • چھوٹاUrdu
  • kichikUzbek
  • nhỏ, nhỏ nhắn, tiểuVietnamese
  • minudik, smalik, yunikVolapük
  • קלייןYiddish
  • Chinese

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Translation

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Are we missing a good synonym for small?

What is another word for “small”? The list below provides some fantastic SMALL synonyms with example sentences in English. Learn these other words for small to improve and expand your vocabulary in English.

Small Definition and Examples

Meaning of Small: Something that is of a reduced measure in comparison to what is average or what is expected.

Examples:

  • “That baby is really cute but he seems small for his age”
  • “It is no longer a cliché to say that good things come in small quantities.”
  • “A small green snake slithered across the wet road.”

List of Synonyms for Small

Different words to use instead of “small”:

  • Cramped
  • Diminutive
  • Dinky
  • Dwarf
  • Eensy
  • Eensy-weensy
  • Elfin
  • Half-pint
  • Homuncular
  • Ickle
  • Inadequate
  • Inappreciable
  • Inconsequential
  • Inconsiderable
  • Insignificant
  • Insufficient
  • Itsy-bitsy
  • Lilliputian
  • Little
  • Little-bitty
  • Meager
  • Measly
  • Microscopic
  • Mingy
  • Mini
  • Miniature
  • Minor
  • Minuscule
  • Minute
  • Negligible
  • Nugatory
  • Pathetic
  • Petite
  • Pint-sized (informal)
  • Pocket-sized
  • Poky
  • Portable
  • Puny
  • Pygmy or pigmy
  • Short
  • Slight
  • Slightly built
  • Small-boned
  • Small-scale
  • Squat
  • Stingy
  • Stubby
  • Stunted
  • Teensy
  • Teensy-weensy
  • Teeny
  • Teeny (informal)
  • Teeny-weeny
  • Tiddly
  • Tiny
  • Titchy
  • Trifling
  • Trivial
  • Undersized
  • Ungenerous
  • Unimportant
  • Vest-pocket
  • Wee
  • Weeny

Small Synonyms with Examples

  • Tiny

For example: The baby put his tiny hand in mine.

  • Petite

For instance: She was fair-haired and petite.

  • Mini

For example: To this end, the mini bell was designed.

  • Teeny-weeny

For instance: It’s a teeny-weeny little top.

  • Little

For instance: She gave a little laugh.

  • Slight

For instance: I woke up with a slight headache.

  • Minute

For instance: The kitchen on the boat is minute.

  • Skimpy

For instance: They provided only skimpy details.

  • Miniature

For instance: A day is a miniature of eternity.

  • Wee

For instance: I felt a wee bit guilty about it.

  • Diminutive

For instance: She has diminutive hands for an adult.

  • Pygmy (with animals)

For instance: He regarded them as intellectual pygmies.

More interesting examples with the word “small”

  • “We wish to show our gratitude and thanks with a small gift. Happy Teacher’s Day!”
  • “Prospective buyers should study the small ads in the daily newspaper.”
  • “We don’t need to do big things—we can start out small.”
  • “According to present law, the authorities can only punish smugglers with small fines.”
  • “One of the small children began to wail with terror.”
  • “He took a small key from his pocket and slowly inserted it into the lock.”
  • “We crossed a small iron bridge over a meandering stream.”
  • “According to present law, the authorities can only punish smugglers with small fines.”
  • “When two industrial giants clash, small companies can get caught in the crossfire.”
  • The president wants to make it easier for small businesses to get bank loans.

Synonyms for Small | Image

SMALL Synonym: List of 12 Synonyms for SMALL with ExamplesPin

Last Updated on December 15, 2020

Table of Contents

Rhymes with Small

  • montreal
  • senegal
  • peterpaul
  • luminol
  • forestall
  • vantol
  • vanhall
  • vandall
  • mcphaul
  • mcnall
  • mcfaul
  • mcfall
  • install
  • enthral
  • baseball
  • squall
  • sprawl
  • scrawl
  • sabol
  • recall
  • nepal
  • metall
  • mehall
  • mccaul
  • mccall
  • fairall
  • engwall
  • edsall
  • depaul
  • befall

How do you pronounce small?

Pronounce small as smɔl.

US — How to pronounce small in American English

UK — How to pronounce small in British English

Sentences with small

Quotes about small

10. small

adjective. [‘ˈsmɔl’] (of a voice) faint.

  • little
  • fat
  • wide
  • smal (Middle English (1100-1500))
  • smæl (Old English (ca. 450-1100))

  • Top Definitions
  • Synonyms
  • Quiz
  • Related Content
  • More About Small
  • Examples
  • British
  • Idioms And Phrases

This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.

This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.


adjective, small·er, small·est.

of limited size; of comparatively restricted dimensions; not big; little: a small box.

slender, thin, or narrow: a small waist.

not large as compared with others of the same kind: a small elephant.

not great in amount, degree, extent, duration, value, etc.: a small salary.

not great numerically: a small army.

of low numerical value; denoted by a low number.

having but little land, capital, power, influence, etc., or carrying on business or some activity on a limited scale: a small enterprise.

of minor importance, moment, weight, or consequence: a small problem.

humble, modest, or unpretentious: small circumstances.

characterized by or indicative of littleness of mind or character; mean-spirited; petty: a small, miserly man.

of little strength or force: a small effort.

(of sound or the voice) gentle; with little volume.

very young: when I was a small boy.

diluted; weak.

adverb, small·er, small·est.

in a small manner: They talked big but lived small.

into small pieces: Slice the cake small.

noun

something that is small: Do you prefer the small or the large?

a small or narrow part, as of the back.

those who are small: Democracy benefits the great and the small.

smalls, small goods or products.

smalls, British.

  1. underclothes.
  2. household linen, as napkins, pillowcases, etc.

smalls, British Informal. the responsions at Oxford University.

smalls, Mining. coal, ore, gangue, etc., in fine particles.

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Idioms about small

    feel small, to be ashamed or mortified: Her unselfishness made me feel small.

Origin of small

First recorded before 900; Middle English smale, Old English smæl; cognate with Dutch smal, German schmal

synonym study for small

1. See little. 1, 3, 5. Smaller, less indicate a diminution, or not so large a size or quantity in some respect. Smaller, as applied to concrete objects, is used with reference to size: smaller apples. Less is used of material in bulk, with reference to amount, and in cases where attributes such as value and degree are in question: A nickel is less than a dime (in value). A sergeant is less than a lieutenant (in rank). As an abstraction, amount may be either smaller or less, though smaller is usually used when the idea of size is suggested: a smaller opportunity. Less is used when the idea of quantity is present: less courage.

OTHER WORDS FROM small

smallness, nounul·tra·small, adjective

Words nearby small

smacker, smackeroo, smackhead, smacking, smack talk, small, small advertisement, smallage, small arm, small arms, small beer

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT SMALL

What is a basic definition of small?

Small is an adjective that describes something as little or not of large size. Small can also describe something as being low in number or amount. Small has many other senses as an adjective, adverb, and noun and is used in several idioms.

If something or someone is small, they are little or diminutive. They are physically short or take up a low amount of physical space. Small can also describe something as being less big than other similar things. For example, a pony is a small horse. The noun form of this sense of small is smallness.

  • Real-life examples: Chihuahuas are small dogs. Ants are small animals. A dime is a small coin.
  • Used in a sentence: The letters were too small to read. 

Small also describes something as being low in number.

  • Real-life examples: A group of 100 soldiers is a very small army. A town that only has 30 people living in it has a small population.
  • Used in a sentence: I started my business with a small team of trusted friends. 

Small can also describe something as not being of a large amount or great degree.

  • Used in a sentence: She won a few small bets before betting it all and winning the jackpot.

Where does small come from?

The first records of small come from before 900. It ultimately comes from the Old English smæl and is related to the Dutch smal and the German schmal.

Did you know … ?

How is small used in real life?

Small is a very common word used to mean something is little, low in number, or low in amount.

For the first time this year, Twitter is adding a small icon after the hashtag for the month.

A great excuse to us it… immoderately!#LGBTHM21

— LGBT+ History Month 🏳️‍🌈 (@LGBTHM) February 1, 2021

Small cats give me life. He’s a beautiful boy 💕

— Nicola Fieldsend (@NFieldsend) April 9, 2021

‘Girl’ was originally a generic term for any small child, regardless of gender.

— Quite Interesting (@qikipedia) August 16, 2020

Try using small!

Is small used correctly in the following sentence?

The box was too small to hold my TV, so I had to find a bigger box.

Words related to small

cramped, limited, meager, microscopic, miniature, minuscule, modest, narrow, paltry, poor, short, slight, small-scale, young, insignificant, light, minor, negligible, baby, bantam

How to use small in a sentence

  • According to Grady of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, well-placed donations to smaller organizations can have exponential impacts.

  • Before I discard the plastic, I cut it up into tiny pieces so that small animals do not get caught in them and they don’t try to eat them.

  • Over small plates, Renee talked about her love for food and Willie talked about his love for cooking.

  • So please think carefully before you demote small-talky situations to a priority below your laundry piles.

  • Castor addressed a small crowd from the stage before Coach Bruce Arians and General Manager Jason Licht offered enthusiastic — and colorful — comments of their own.

  • Something like fluoride, which is too small for normal filters, yanks away that feeling of agency.

  • And yes, someone has already called Spencer a “Small Fry,” har har.

  • It was seen by a small delegation of star-struck prelates and dignitaries who later described the film as “moving.”

  • The judges who handle arraignments at criminal court in all five boroughs have a small fraction of their usual caseloads.

  • Inside the guild, men in caps and long gowns sit in twos, weaving together in small rooms.

  • The Duchess had also a tent for their sick men; so that we had a small town of our own here, and every body employed.

  • Suddenly, however, he became aware of a small black spot far ahead in the very middle of the unencumbered track.

  • He is perplexed and hindered by the lack of soldiers, but is doing his best with his small forces.

  • A small book, bound in full purple calf, lay half hidden in a nest of fine tissue paper on the dressing-table.

  • Before the outlaw can comply with this small request the horn sounds again.

British Dictionary definitions for small


adjective

comparatively little; limited in size, number, importance, etc

of little importance or on a minor scalea small business

lacking in moral or mental breadth or deptha small mind

modest or humblesmall beginnings

of low or inferior status, esp socially

(of a child or animal) young; not mature

unimportant, triviala small matter

not outstandinga small actor

of, relating to, or designating the ordinary modern minuscule letter used in printing and cursive writingCompare capital 1 (def. 13) See also lower case

lacking great strength or forcea small effort

in fine particlessmall gravel

obsolete (of beer, etc) of low alcoholic strength

adverb

into small piecesyou have to cut it small

in a small or soft manner

feel small to be humiliated or inferior

noun

the small an object, person, or group considered to be smalldo you want the small or the large?

a small slender part, esp of the back

(plural) informal, mainly British items of personal laundry, such as underwear

Derived forms of small

smallish, adjectivesmallness, noun

Word Origin for small

Old English smæl; related to Old High German smal, Old Norse smali small cattle

Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with small


In addition to the idioms beginning with small

  • small beer
  • small cog in a large wheel
  • small frog in a big pond
  • small fry
  • small hours
  • small print
  • small talk
  • small time
  • small wonder

also see:

  • big fish in a small pond
  • (small) cog in the wheel
  • give thanks for small blessings
  • it’s a small world
  • little (small) frog in a big pond
  • make a (small) fortune
  • no (small) wonder
  • still small voice

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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