Definitions

small

[smawl] / smɔl /

ADJECTIVE

tiny in size, quantity

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cramped limited meager microscopic miniature minuscule modest narrow paltry poor short slight small-scale young

STRONG

baby bantam diminutive little mini minute petite petty scanty shrimp toy trifling wee

WEAK

bitty humble immature inadequate inconsequential inconsiderable insufficient picayune piddling pint-sized pitiful pocket-sized puny runty scrubby stunted teensy teeny trivial undersized unpretentious

Antonyms

STRONGEST

adequate big fat great huge important large liberal rich significant substantial sufficient tall thick unlimited unrestricted wealthy wide

STRONG

consequential giant useful

WEAK

benevolent broad-minded considerate distinguished enormous excellent famous fine generous giving immense kind untrivial

ADJECTIVE

unimportant

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-fry 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

narrow-minded, nasty

Synonyms

STRONGEST

limited narrow

STRONG

base little mean petty set

WEAK

grudging ignoble illiberal selfish vulgar

Antonyms

STRONGEST

unrestricted

STRONG

important noble

WEAK

benevolent big broad-minded considerate distinguished enormous excellent famous fine generous giving huge immense kind large untrivial

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.

This is your regular reminder that it’s a small world.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

Using the winger to go on the prowl is one of the small changes Laviolette plans to bring.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Scott McKenna is the first player from Kirriemuir – a small Angus town of around 6,000 people – to reach football's biggest stage.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

That relationship later ended, and Rinderknecht moved to a small apartment in North Hollywood, where O’Brien said “his life started to deteriorate.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

When we finally park in a small lot, Coach Wiley saunters to the front of the bus.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

small

Example Sentences

Related Words