Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

small-fry

[smawl frahy] / ˈsmɔl ˌfraɪ /
ADJECTIVE
dinky
Synonyms
STRONG
Lilliputian dainty mini miniature minor petite secondary trim
WEAK
bush-league insignificant lesser minor-league neat second-rate small-time
Antonyms
STRONG
huge large rough
WEAK
big
ADJECTIVE
lesser
Synonyms
STRONGEST
insignificant minor
WEAK
a notch under bottom bush bush-league dinky less important low lower minor-league nether second-fiddle second-string slighter small small-time subjacent subordinate third-string undersized
Antonyms
STRONGEST
significant
WEAK
greater higher major superior
ADJECTIVE
minor
Synonyms
STRONGEST
inconsequential lesser negligible petty secondary slight trivial unimportant
STRONG
accessory dependent dinky inferior junior light low minus subordinate subsidiary trifling
WEAK
below the mark bush-league casual inconsiderable paltry piddling second-string small-time smaller tacky two-bit younger
Antonyms
STRONGEST
consequential important major significant superior useful worthwhile
STRONG
chief strong
WEAK
greater
ADJECTIVE
minor-league
Synonyms
WEAK
accessory below the mark bush-league casual dependent dinky inconsequential inconsiderable inferior junior lesser light low lower minus negligible paltry petty piddling second-string secondary slight small small-time smaller subaltern subordinate subsidiary tacky trifling trivial two-bit unimportant younger
ADJECTIVE
puny
Synonyms
STRONGEST
feeble frail inconsequential measly paltry tiny trivial
WEAK
diminutive fragile half-pint inferior infirm little minor niggling nothing peanut peewee petty picayune piddling pint-sized runt shrimp small time stunted trifling two-bit unconsequential underfed undersized undeveloped unsound unsubstantial weak weakly wee worthless zero zilch
Antonyms
STRONGEST
important significant strong
WEAK
big giant huge large
ADJECTIVE
secondary
Synonyms
STRONGEST
inferior insignificant trivial unimportant
STRONG
accessory alternate auxiliary backup collateral contingent dependent dinky extra lower minor petty relief reserve second small subject subsidiary supporting tributary
WEAK
bush-league consequential inconsiderable lesser minor-league second-rate small-time subservient substract under
Antonyms
STRONGEST
consequential important significant useful valuable worthwhile
STRONG
big chief huge large main major necessary primary
WEAK
causative first-class first-rate source superior
ADJECTIVE
small
Synonyms
STRONGEST
insignificant light limited minor narrow negligible paltry
STRONG
inferior lower mean minute petty secondary set trifling
WEAK
bush-league inadequate inconsiderable ineffectual lesser minor-league small-time trivial unessential
Antonyms
STRONGEST
important major significant substantial unrestricted
STRONG
consequential first-class first-rate superior useful
WEAK
benevolent big broad-minded considerate distinguished enormous excellent famous fine generous giving huge immense kind large untrivial
ADJECTIVE
small-time
Synonyms
STRONGEST
petty
WEAK
bush-league dinky inconsequential inconsiderable insignificant low piddling second-string secondary trivial two-bit unimportant
ADJECTIVE
stunted
Synonyms
STRONG
dwarf dwarfed scrub short shot shrimp wee
WEAK
bantam diminutive dwarfish half-pint little measly mite peanut peewee pint-sized runted runtish runty small tiny undergrown undersized yea big yea high
Antonyms
STRONG
large
WEAK
developing growing
NOUN
boy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
child kid little one young one youngster youth
STRONG
gamin half-pint junior puppy runt schoolboy shaver son sonny sprout squirt stripling tadpole whippersnapper
WEAK
cadet little guy little shaver small fry
Antonyms
WEAK
girl
NOUN
child
Synonyms
STRONGEST
baby boy daughter girl juvenile kid minor offspring son youngster youth
STRONG
babe bairn bambino brat chick cub imp innocent lamb moppet nestling nipper shaver sprout squirt stripling suckling tadpole tot tyke urchin
WEAK
anklebiter gamin gamine kiddie pubescent small fry young one
Antonyms
STRONGEST
adult
STRONG
parent
NOUN
nonentity
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cipher
STRONG
nobody nonexistence nothing zero zilch
WEAK
small fry
Antonyms
STRONG
something
WEAK
VIP entity somebody
NOUN
tot
Synonyms
STRONG
babe baby bairn bambino brat bud cherub chick cub imp infant innocent juvenile kid lamb minor mite moppet neonate nestling newborn nipper nursling offspring progeny sprout squirt suckling tadpole toddler tyke urchin youngster youth
WEAK
anklebiter kiddie little angel little darling little doll little one pubescent small fry teenybopper young one
Antonyms
STRONG
adolescent adult parent
NOUN
youngster
Synonyms
STRONGEST
boy child girl juvenile kid pupil student teenager youth
STRONG
chick cub fledgling junior lad lass moppet punk pup puppy sapling shaver sonny squirt urchin
WEAK
juvenile delinquent little guy little kid small fry snotnose kid teenybopper young adult young person
Antonyms
STRONGEST
adult professor teacher
WEAK
elder

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Such small fry could easily flail or fail.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Several clients raised the question of whether this bet was being redefined to benefit “whales,” or big-money gamblers, at the expense of the small fry.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 5, 2026

Big money for a side operating on frees and non-contracts not so long ago, but small fry when it comes to pushing for the Premier League.

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2025

Some passages one might almost call psychedelic if that word didn’t seem inappropriate to small fry.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2024

The arrests netted only a few small fry, but the Nazis now knew that their codes had been broken.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "small-fry" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com