runt

The octopus appears to be the runt of the Megaleledonidae family, whose members are normally much larger and live in the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica.

From Barron's ● May 25, 2026

Beguiled by photos of teensy piglets, she chose the runt of the litter—a tiny, shivering nugget for $350.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 3, 2026

"I'd stay up with her too, making sure all was okay. And it was, with even the runt of the litter thriving."

From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026

But Dek is the approximate size of a large human, a veritable runt in a race of beings that are typically between 7 and 8 feet tall.

From Salon ● Nov. 12, 2025

Every kid at the party was a runt beside her, except Harry, who was only a couple of inches shorter.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

The Rams were nearly toppled by the runts, barely surviving what should have been a blowout, profusely sweating through a wild-card playoff game that should have been a breeze, and now you wonder.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 11, 2026

They’re largely about the desolation and pain heaped upon the runts of life’s litter, young people who barely stand a chance.

From New York Times ● Jan. 18, 2022

With a limited budget, I had only the runts of the litter from which to choose.

From BBC ● May 29, 2021

And of course, when those little runts grow up, what’s a Perennial Parent to do?

From Time ● Jun. 26, 2013

Grover translated: “Aunty Em’s Garden Gnome Emporium” Flanking the entrance, as advertised, were two cement garden gnomes, ugly bearded little runts, smiling and waving, as if they were about to get their picture taken.

From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan