Definitions

small-fry

[smawl frahy] / ˈsmɔl ˌfraɪ /

Part of Speech:

All (14) Adjective (9) Noun (5)

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dinky adj.
lesser adj.
minor adj.
minor-league adj.
puny adj.
secondary adj.
small adj.
small-time adj.
stunted adj.
boy n.
child n.
nonentity n.
tot n.
youngster n.

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.

See Examples For:

small-fry

Wait, a $10 billion bet gone bad plus some small-fry investor leverage kills $500 billion in crypto value?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 15, 2026

Chloe at the time, still finishing her A-levels, thought was she too small-fry to ever be a target.

From BBC ● Feb. 15, 2025

If everything sticks, this civic scandal could make the 2010 Bell fiasco — which saw four councilmembers, two city administrators, and the mayor convicted on corruption charges — look as small-fry as high school ASB.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2022

From small-fry investors to members of Congress, critics paint short sellers as merchants of pain.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 11, 2021

A corporal in the Army is only a small-fry boss.

From Uncle Sam's Boys as Sergeants or, Handling Their First Real Commands by H. Irving (Harrie Irving) Hancock

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