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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.

Small companies usually don’t have that luxury—so they are getting creative.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

Small tips, like the cut of hoods, or the excess arm space runners need in order to move, showed students how intricate even the simplest of pieces needed to be.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

Small investors ended up with more shares than they knew what to do with and rushed to sell after trading started.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

The book, which recently featured as a major plot device in Mackenzie Crook's BBC comedy Small Prophets, is seen by experts as the "absolute pinnacle of ornithological art".

From BBC • May 1, 2026

Small mobs of other monsters popped up in waves, getting stronger the longer the fight went.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows