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.

The drug combination also showed a 100% response rate in a small group of patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

While most released more acetylcholine, some small clusters of cells showed little change or even a decrease in activity.

From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026

He said the bishop also offered "a small number of thousands of pounds" to help the woman "relocate".

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

S&P didn’t look at private credit, which has remained a small portion of property-casualty portfolios even as it has ballooned at their life-insurance counterparts.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

When everything comes into focus, I realize I’m lying on the small red sofa in the back office of Aunt J’s hair salon.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

small

Example Sentences

Related Words